Riddle (19 page)

“Nope. I think she’s funny. And I think you’re funny.” Sipping his coffee he held Grace’s gaze. “We need to talk about Tony. You don’t need to take any chances.”

“But suppose he knows something. Suppose he can clear your name. Kort you deserve the chance.”

Kort sighed heavily. He was conscious of the intensity of her green eyes, the way her copper colored hair caught the sunlight making it look like a bright nimbus around her face. “If anything happened to you because you were with him I couldn’t live with myself. We really don’t know anything for certain. You have a feeling he didn’t kill Desiree. Suppose you’re wrong. I think Tony is dangerous.”

Mandy had just set his plate in front of him and heard what he said. “I think he’s weird. I keep telling her something about him is off. He has no friends, no girlfriend. He lives with his mother for goodness sake. At his age he should be living on his own. He’s creepy and you should stay away from him Grace. He barely said two words after you left last night. It was like spending time with a robot. You know he drives his mother’s car, right?”

“That black car belongs to his mother?” Grace took a bite of her toast.

“She can’t drive because her license is suspended for a year for DUI’s. The only time she can go anywhere is if he takes her. And I told you about his father. The whole family is crazy if you ask me.”

Kort and Grace exchanged glances.

“I’ll tell you something else. Norma is a little odd too. She left as soon as you did last night. I mean she tore out of the parking lot throwing gravel. She almost hit a couple walking to their car. They should hook up. They’d make the perfect pair.” Before she could continue Jack called to her indicating there were other tables to attend to. Huffing in annoyance she went to take orders.

“Something just isn’t right,” Kort mused.

“That’s what I’m saying. Tony told me he needs someone to talk to. He may know if his father killed Desiree. Maybe there was a note at home or maybe he said something to him.” She began chewing thoughtfully on a piece of bacon. “I think it would be worth it to try talking to him. I should apologize for last night, tell him I’m sorry I left.”

“Grace,” Kort looked at her warningly.

“At least think about it.” Grace managed a grin. She was alternately excited and scared by the idea of spending time with Tony.

“Fine. I’ll think about it. But I know you’ll do what you want to in the end anyway. You’re so stubborn.”

And he was so very right about that.

Chapter 32

After breakfast Kort drove her back to her apartment. “I have a couple of errands to run but I’d like to come by later if that’s okay.”

“You want some company?”

              “No it’s something I need to handle on my own.” He avoided her eyes. A little warning alarm went off in the back of her mind. She wanted to ask if it had anything to do with Norma. Suddenly she had a twinge of jealousy. Pushing it away she offered a strained smile. “Okay then. Give me a call when you’re finished.”

              He leaned over to kiss her and she turned her face slightly.

              “Hey.” He grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. “It’s not a big deal. I know what you’re thinking.”

              Grace felt her face grow warm. She opened her mouth to protest but he raised his eyebrows challenging her. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

              “I didn’t say that. I said I know what you’re thinking. This has nothing to do with Norma. I want to check in with my mother because I know she’ll be worried. And I have something I need to pick up.” Then he added softly, “I don’t have any interest in Norma. Plus you’ve worn me out and I don’t have energy for anything.”

              Staring into his dark eyes and seeing the laughter behind them she had to giggle. “You didn’t seem very worn out before breakfast.” She kissed him lightly. “Go on and replenish your energy so I can work on wearing you out again later.” She was slightly shocked to hear herself saying such things. Her desire for him was overwhelming and she seemed unable to monitor her words or her actions.

              Kort slid his hand up the inside of her thigh and felt the warmth from her core. She trembled slightly at his touch. “I’ll hold you to that.” Removing his hand he continued in a shaky voice. “Now go on upstairs. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can get back.”

              He watched as she went up the stairs and into the apartment still uneasy about the events of the previous evening. Looking at her terrace he smiled as she waved from behind the curtains. Leaving the parking lot he went over everything that had happened since the night before. As much as he tried to avoid the thought he realized he was in love with Grace. Sooner or later he would have to tell her and find out what her feelings were. There was still the question of whether she would stay in Riddle once her car was repaired. He didn’t know what he would say or do if she told him she planned to leave. Part of her was a wild child, a gypsy, always on the move. The way things stood in his life he couldn’t leave Riddle yet. In fact he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to leave. He had a job. He had plans and he wanted to continue his education. It would be foolish to just pack up and move on with no destination in mind.

              Shaking his head he continued home, already thinking of what he would say to his mother. He had no doubt she was going to be more than a little upset and he didn’t feel like having an argument. After talking to her he had a plan. He had something to do that he had been putting off for some time.

              Kort was so deep in thought he did not notice the sheriff’s car that followed him down the winding road from The Timbers to the main road. Butch planned to follow him for a while longer but his radio crackled and he was forced to abandon trailing Kort. As Kort turned toward his home he glanced in his rearview mirror. The sight of the sheriff’s car headed away from him made him take a deep breath. As the tail lights faded into the distance his mind was drawn once again to his plans for the rest of the day.

Chapter 33

              Grace threw open her apartment door fully expecting to see Kort standing there. Instead she found Tony standing with his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans.  “Oh. Hey. Hi.” She stammered.

              “I just thought I’d drop by and see how you are. You were pretty shook up last night. If you’re feeling up to it I thought we might grab some lunch,” he said casually.

              Grace stood uncertainly holding the door almost closed. “Oh Tony I would love to but I already have plans.”

              Tony leaned to the side looking over her shoulder into the apartment. “Oh.”

              An awkward silence filled the air between them as Grace struggled for something to say. Just then the roar of an engine filled the corridor and Tony leaned back to look down into the parking lot. A strange smile crossed his lips and he looked back at Grace. “Your plans have arrived.”

              Grace opened the door a little wider and saw Kort bounding up the steps. He stopped short when he saw Tony and his eyes flew to Grace’s questioningly.

              “I see you have a new ride,” Tony observed, his tone lazy and his eyes half closed.

              Looking from one man to the other she opened the door fully and stepped outside to get a better view of the parking lot. A deep burgundy motorcycle was parked below the landing and she turned to Kort in surprise. “You got a motorcycle?”

              A wide grin lit up Kort’s face. “It appears I have.”

              “Well I’ll leave you two to your plans. Maybe next time Grace.” With a brief nod at Kort Tony went down the stairs and stopped for a quick once over of the bike before getting into his car.

              As Tony drove off Kort pulled Grace into his arms and kissed her deeply. Moving back slightly he smiled, “Surprise.”

              Chuckling Grace agreed, “In more ways than one.”

              They went into the apartment and Grace sat down on the couch to pull on her boots. “He just showed up. I thought it was you at the door.”

              Leaning against the kitchen counter Kort frowned. “He didn’t call you first? He just came here?” She nodded and his frown deepened. “That’s a little unsettling.”

              She went to stand in front of him and slipping her arms around his neck she said softly. “It doesn’t matter. Forget about it. When did you get the bike? Or should I ask why?”

              Still uncomfortable with Tony’s unexpected appearance Kort pushed his concerns to the back of his mind and slid his arms around her waist. “I’ve always wanted one. I actually got it from your good buddy Jerry. He’d had it up for sale and I looked at it a few times. He made me a good deal on a down payment and reasonable monthly payments. I couldn’t resist.” Looking over the top of her head toward the door his lips tightened. “I don’t like the fact that he just showed up Grace. It’s…” he searched for a word.

              “Creepy?” Grace supplied. “That’s what Mandy says. She says he’s weird and creepy. I don’t see that. I think he is just lonely and wants someone to talk to.”

              “Like Norman Bates in Psycho?” Kort looked into her eyes concernedly.

              “Norman Bates is a fictional character.”

              “Ted Bundy and Jack the Ripper weren’t,” he pointed out.

              Grace moved out from his embrace. “What do you want me to do Kort? He hasn’t done anything harmful to me or to anyone I know of.  Should I just tell him he scares people so he needs to leave me alone?” Taking his hands into hers, her tone softened. “I keep coming back to the possibility he might know something that could help you. If I just spent a little time with him he might say something.”

              “I’m just not comfortable with you being alone with him. If you have to do this, at least stay in public places.” He squeezed her hands gently. “Come on downstairs and we’ll go for a ride.”

              Making a face Grace told him she had never been on a motorcycle. “I’m not even sure I could hold on.”

              Hugging her lightly Kort murmured, “You’ll do fine. I have another surprise; some place I want to take you. Grab your jacket, it’s a little colder on the back of a bike.”

              As they went down the steps to the bike Grace noticed that the temperature had dropped and the scent of the pine trees seemed stronger as if to say winter was closing in. She wondered what winter in Riddle was like; if it snowed or if the rainy days just increased. She watched Kort swing his long leg over the saddle of the motorcycle and went on to wonder if she would be in Riddle when winter came in full force. Still uncertain about her feelings for the man, she pushed the thoughts away. Kort smiled at her and reached out to adjust the strap on the helmet he had brought for her to wear. “All set?”

              Grace took a deep breath, nodded, and swung onto the seat behind him.

              “Just relax and let me do all the work.” Excitement filled his voice. “Hang on.”

              He started out slowly, driving out of the parking lot carefully, giving Grace a chance to adjust her balance. Heading down the road from the Timbers to the main road they wobbled slightly on the curves until Grace realized she had to match her body movements to Kort’s. She started out holding on to his sides but by the time they reached the bottom of the hill she had slipped her arms around his waist her fingers holding on to the soft leather of his jacket. When he stopped at a red light he turned slightly to ask if she was okay.

              “So far, so good.” She laughed nervously. “It’s kind of exciting.”

              He grinned and as the light changed to green gunned the engine and turned on to the main road. They sped past the inn, the diner, the entrance to the highway and soon they were climbing a two lane road into the mountains.

              The day was beautiful; the skies clear except for a few puffy clouds that looked like huge cotton balls. The trees were taller and no longer only a variety of pine; oak trees, some red cedar, and maple lined the road as well. The colors were bright against the sky although many of the trees had begun to shed their leaves. The air rushed past them as they sped higher into the mountains and it grew cooler. Kort took the curves cautiously, mindful of Grace’s lack of experience. After a short time she stopped burying her face in his jacket and began to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

              They passed few vehicles and most seemed to be going in the opposite direction. Grace had relaxed by the time Kort pulled off onto the side of the road. He guided the bike into a small gravel area that had obviously been used for that purpose often in the past. Straddling the bike he pulled off his helmet and held the bike steady as Grace dismounted. “Are you okay?” He hooked their helmets onto the bike.

              Grace’s cheeks were flushed from the cool air and her excitement. “Better than okay. That was incredible. Why did you stop?”

              Kort looked up at the sky and around at the surrounding foliage. “This has always been one of my favorite places.” He took her hand. “Walk with me.” He led her through the trees and down the gently sloping hill that led to a wide, rushing river. “I used to ride my bicycle up here when things got bad at home or school. It was the only place I felt any peace.” His hair had grown longer since Grace first met him and she watched it blow back from his face in the breeze. Looking at him in profile, in that setting, she was struck by how comfortable he looked. He turned his dark eyes to hers. “This is the first time I’ve been here since Desiree was killed.”

              Grace’s heart did a flip flop. She waited a second to see if he would elaborate. When he didn’t continue, she asked, “Why?”

              Kort took a deep breath. “There’s so much I need to tell you. Desiree and I were not what you would call a conventional couple. When she first showed an interest in me I figured it was some kind of joke to embarrass me or maybe set me up to get my ass kicked. But she kept at it. One thing that could always be said about Desiree was she got whatever she went after.” His tone grew slightly bitter.

              Grace shivered whether from the change in his tone or the strengthening of the breeze she could not say. She watched his face closely. He was looking out across the river now, almost as though she wasn’t even there.

              “We rode our bikes up here. She had hinted she had something important to tell me and she wanted us to be alone. I heard her words but I misunderstood the meaning. We’d kissed a few times but we didn’t get a lot of time alone. She was a cheerleader and involved in so many activities. And of course she didn’t want her parents to find out about us.” He laughed harshly. “Us,” he repeated the word.  He had released Grace’s hand and shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. “I thought she wanted time alone with me. I was so flattered. I can’t say I loved her but I was definitely in love with the idea of her.” Kort moved closer to the river and Grace followed afraid she would not be able to hear him over the rushing water.

              “She propositioned me all right. It turned out I was right about her motives. See Desiree was in love with Butch, our diligent deputy. Butch had a scholarship to UCLA and he and Desiree had been going at it hot and heavy for months. They had decided they would both go to UCLA so they could continue their romantic activities. But Desiree’s parents were not stupid. They figured her intense desire to attend UCLA was more about Butch than the curriculum at the university. They wanted her to stay here and go to a state school. She was in line for scholarships wherever she went. But if she went out of state there would be additional fees. Desiree had no money of her own. Unlike most of us in high school she didn’t have to work and she chose not to work. The plan was to make her parents believe she was involved with me, Riddle’s notorious non-white bad boy. She believed her parents would be a lot more concerned about her hooking up with me than running off with Butch. Butch was a big deal, his family has money, and he was acceptable.”

              Grace was shivering fully now as Kort’s voice grew more distant almost as though he was reliving the moments as he spoke about them.

              “I lost my temper and said some ugly things. I had given her something of mine, something very personal. It was a medallion that had belonged to my mother. It was all I had from her. It was on a thin piece of leather and she was wearing it around her neck. I ripped it off her neck and the leather broke. I stuck the medallion into my pocket. I didn’t realize I had scratched her; it drew just a little blood that got under my fingernail. I turned to walk away and she grabbed at my arm. Her nails dug into my skin. As I pulled away from her she left scratches on my arm. I shoved her and she fell. I didn’t care. I headed up to where we had parked our bikes. I know she got up because I heard her rushing through the bushes after me. I never looked back. I got on my bike and pedaled home cursing her all the way.”

              Kort looked down at Grace then. “I never saw her alive again. When she was reported missing I thought about telling the police what I knew. But I was sure they would think I did something to her. There were even moments when I wondered if I had done something. Had she gotten up? Or was she unconscious out there? It rained that afternoon and it poured for days afterward. When they found her she had that piece of leather clutched in her fist, a scratch on her neck and my blood under her fingernails.”

              Grace’s heart was pounding. She had not made a sound while he spoke and now she didn’t know what to say.

              “I didn’t kill her, Grace. I was angry and hurt. But I was angrier at myself for being so gullible, so stupid. I brought you here because I wanted to tell you everything. I’ve never told anyone; I never told my parents, I never told my lawyer, I never told the therapist they sent me to in jail. I had to tell you because I’m in love with you.” He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. “I understand if you don’t believe me. I’ll take you back to town and never bother you again.”

`              Grace caught his hand and turned her face to kiss his palm. Then she looked up into his eyes and said softly. “I believe you.”              

              He pulled her close and they stood for a moment, arms around one another. Grace rested her head against his chest and listened to the steady beating of his heart. She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath before moving back to look into his eyes again. “I love you. I’m scared to death. I can’t be hurt again Kort. But I can’t stop the way I feel.”

              Taking her face into his hands he marveled at the paleness of her skin against his. Then he leaned forward and kissed her deeply.  They were not aware of the eyes that watched them from across the stream. They did not see the clenched fist or the tightness of the jaw.

              “Let’s go back to town,” Kort said softly. “I have something else I want to show you, someone I want you to meet.”

              Grace held tightly to Kort as he guided the bike back down the mountain and into town. Traffic was heavier as people headed to their homes after Sunday visits to friends and family, church services, and pick up football games.  Resting her head against his broad back Grace closed her eyes and went over all he had said. She searched her heart for any indication she doubted him but found no uncertainty. Opening her eyes again she saw they were riding through a residential neighborhood with houses that had neat gardens and manicured lawns. Brilliant yellow and orange mums were interspersed with the brightly colored leaves that dotted yards. Kort drove slowly into the driveway of one of the houses and Grace suddenly realized where they were going. Part of her wanted to protest it was far too soon to take this step, to tell him she wasn’t ready yet. Another part of her was more than a little curious about the woman who had raised Kort. Whatever her feelings they were at the house now and there really wasn’t any turning back.