Skylar (The Love Family Series Book 1) (6 page)

“I’m pulling anchor. Just come up when you’re ready. Declan’s going to meet us at the dock.”

Chapter 6

A flicker of apprehension coursed through Luke as he stepped onto the pier. His eyes darted from boat to boat and person to person around the marina, looking for anyone who might look out of place or suspicious.

“Relax.” Declan clapped him on the back. “We searched the pier and everyone on it while we were waiting on you. I have a team patrolling the perimeter and another one at the hotel. We’ve got McGregor set up in a conference room so your meeting won’t take place in public.”

Sky nudged her brother as she passed him. “I hope you checked him for deadly weapons.”

Warmth spread through Luke’s body. She really cared, even if her remarks didn’t hold merit. She didn’t hold back in her concern.

“Sky, the man is sixty-two years old.”

She shrugged. “Just because he’s older doesn’t mean he can’t shoot a gun.”

“We’ll check him before we get there,” Declan said reassuringly. “We’re taking you in through the service entrance straight to the room for less exposure.”

The skies above them darkened in warning. She looked up, her face pinched as she climbed into the back seat of the SUV. Luke followed her gaze. “The storm’s coming.”

He clicked his seatbelt. “We’ll be staying inland tonight.”

Declan met Luke’s gaze. He could read the worry in her brother’s eyes. The same worry was playing havoc with his stomach. Dread filled his veins in the silence of the car. When they reached the service entrance, the door was being guarded by one of the deputies. He held it open as Declan escorted them through the hallway, passing the employees’ break room and leading them into the conference hallway. 

Declan entered first, asking McGregor to stand and hold out his arms. McGregor’s glare never left Luke’s as he was checked for weapons. “You can have a seat.”

McGregor sat, and Luke took the chair across from him. “Stan, I’m sorry about Amanda. I can’t imagine your grief.”

“You should be, you little shit. You killed her.”

“Mr. McGregor, Luke has been cleared in this case.”

“Of course he has. You protect your kind on this poor excuse for an island.”

“Sir…I’m the law on this island, and it would be in your best interest if you remembered that.” Declan placed his hands on the table and met McGregor’s gaze. “He’s innocent, and I have video that proves it. Now, if you just wanted to come here so you can accuse him, then this meeting is over.”

McGregor huffed and rose. “My daughter came here with him.” He pointed an accusing finger at Luke.

“No, Stan, she didn’t. I didn’t even know she was here until we ran into her in the restaurant. Whatever she was doing was without my knowledge or my blessing. I broke things off with her months ago.”

The lines on McGregor’s face deepened. “She told me you proposed.” He shook his head. “She had the ring to prove it.”

“She was using me as a way to get you to give her back her inheritance. I overheard the entire conversation. When she was on the phone, she was joking with someone about how she had me wrapped around her finger and that it was only a matter of time before you’d give her back the money when she left me. Only I never gave her the chance. I called it off with her.” Luke leaned back in his chair. “She might have had a ring, but I can guarantee you, it wasn’t mine.”

“Mr. McGregor, were you paying her bills? Do you have any idea who she could have been talking to?”

“I have no idea who she could have been talking to and I didn’t pay her bills. Her spending habits were through the roof and I cut off her funds.” He met Luke’s gaze. “She did all of this over money?”

“I don’t want to speculate. I can only tell you what I overheard, and it was a one-sided conversation.”

“Do you have any idea who would want Amanda dead?” Declan steered the conversation back to the crime. “Any enemies or anything out of the ordinary that you’ve noticed recently?”

McGregor eased back into his seat and laced his fingers, resting his fist on his mouth as he stared at the table, lost in thought.

“No. I can’t think of anyone.” He glanced up at Declan. “What you have to understand was that she had a way of winning people over to seeing things her way. I can’t think of anyone.”

Declan pulled out his card and slid it across the table. “If you think of anything, call me. The ME will be calling you shortly to make arrangements for Amanda.”

McGregor rose and picked up the card. “You are going to catch this son of bitch?”

Declan glanced back at Sky before he answered. “You can count on it.”

Luke rounded the table and held out his hand. McGregor ignored it; Luke’s attempt at a truce dismissed. It was a shame. If McGregor and Luke could ever see eye to eye, the world might have a few more miracles in store. 

“I am sorry for your loss, Stan.” Luke dropped his arm.

Luke turned to find Skylar silently waiting by the door, her eyes glassy. He opened the door and rested his hand on her lower back, escorting her out the same way they’d entered, back to the SUV. Declan followed behind them.

“He’s telling the truth. He has no idea,” Declan mumbled.

“Did you use your Jedi mind trick to figure that out, or did something else give it away?”

“No tricks, it’s a natural occurrence. I just…know when they’re lying, and he wasn’t. He thinks his daughter was an angel.”

It wasn’t until they were back in the SUV that Skylar spoke.

“That went better than I expected. That poor man.” She buckled her belt. “His energy was a dull brown. He’s in mourning.”

Declan exchanged a few words with the cop at the door before sliding behind the wheel. He glanced up in the rearview mirror. “See, Sky, no one got hurt.”

“I know.” She grinned and pulled out her .45 from the back of her jeans. “I brought the heat. He wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

Both Declan and Luke turned in their seats.

“You came armed?” Luke asked, amazed that he hadn’t noticed.

Declan turned back around with a chuckle. “Well…she is
my
sister.”

****

Fifteen minutes later, they were seated in Declan’s office. The TV monitor hanging on the wall was playing the recording from the hotel of the night Amanda died.

“Here you are.” Declan pointed at the screen.

Sky paced behind where Luke was sitting. She stopped and watched as Luke banged on the door. “Where’s the sound?”

“There isn’t any,” Declan answered without looking at her.

A few seconds later, Luke was leaving, and a couple minutes passed until Amanda’s door opened.

Declan paused the video. “This is the guy. Keep watching. His hat is pulled to cover his face, not giving us a good shot on any of the cameras.”

Luke stood as Declan pressed play again, and they watched as the man hurried down the hall and disappeared into the stairwell.

“Can you replay that?”

“Sure.” Declan started the video over again and played it in slow motion.

He pointed to the screen as the man opened the stairwell door. “Stop.”

Declan stopped the video.

“When he opens the door, it raises his jacket. You can see his gun.”

“If he had a gun, why didn’t he just shoot her? Why the horrible death?” Skylar asked.

“If I was profiling, it suggests that the kill wasn’t random. He wanted her to suffer. We just have to figure out why.” He glanced at Luke. “Do you know anyone that resembles him?”

“Just from his body build?” He rested his elbow on the arm crossed over his chest and stroked his five o’clock shadow. “No. The only person that came with me is my assistant, Justin Healy, and he’s not even remotely that tall or big. What about a local or what if he’s someone that has it in for Amanda?”

Skylar stepped closer to the screen and pointed to the paused picture. She glanced back at them while jabbing the picture. “His energy lines.” She turned back to the screen and ran her fingers above the man. “They’re black. I thought it was just the lighting in the hallway when he opened the door, but I should be able to see the light.” She turned to them. “Do you guys see the light?”

“Yep, we see the light,” Declan answered, crossing his arms over his chest. “You don’t?”

“No, which means it’s his energy I’m seeing.” A smile split her lips as she spoke. “I should be able to identify him.”

“Assuming he’s the only one with black energy,” Declan added.

“I’ve never seen another person with it on the island, Dec. Regardless of his face, I’ll know him.”

“Wait.” Luke held up his hand. “From what I understand about your ability, the colors can lighten or darken depending on emotional state.”

“For the most part,” she answered. “Sometimes they can entwine with another person’s when they’ve been together for a long time.”

“Okay…so what if his color was black because he’d just killed her.”

“Then, if he’s not in the killing mood, the spectrum would be the same. My guess is he’s medium to dark gray, depending on his mood, and black when he’s furious.”

“And have you seen anyone on the island with grey?”

She took the seat next to Luke and thought back to the restaurant incident. Her eyes widened and a smile split her lips. “I’ve seen grey. The guy was at the restaurant that night, sitting at the bar. I remember looking over at the bar after being told the bartender fixed our drinks and thinking his color was unique.”

“Was he wearing a hat?” Declan asked.

She shook her head. “No. I’m positive he wasn’t. He was dressed in one of those hideous flowered shirts.”

Declan clapped his hands. “This fucker is going down.” He rounded his desk and picked up the phone. “I need the surveillance brought in from the restaurant the night of the accident. Yes, I know you’ve already examined it. We have a new lead." He rolled his eyes as his tone deepened. “Just get it in here, now.”

“Declan, this won’t hold up in court. You’re going to need more evidence.”

“I’m working on it.” Declan pulled out his chair and sat. “Right now, Sky is the only person who can ID him.”

“Exactly!” Luke rose and moved to stand behind Sky’s chair. “She’s the only person who can ID him. She doesn’t need to be anywhere near this guy if we get a look at his face.”

“What?” She glanced over her shoulder. “If I can help catch this guy just by walking around town, you better believe I’m going to do it.” She turned in her chair. “It’s the right thing to do.” She threw the same words he’d used on her back at him. “Who’s next? You, your parents, mine?” She stood. “Listen.” She took a deep breath knowing she must use reason with Luke. “I’m not going to engage him if I find him. I’m not stupid.”

“No, stupid is you walking through town as an open target. What if this guy has already left the island?”

“There’s one way to find out.” Declan glanced at her. “You’ll have to review ferry footage of the passengers boarding. Are you up for that?”

She nodded. She’d do anything to catch this guy, even if it meant watching hours of boring footage of people leaving the island.

“Great, after we review the restaurant tape and have a positive ID, I’ll have somewhere to start looking while you guys stay at the family cabin near the waterfall and review the film.” He glanced at Luke. “She’s safe with you and out of the way. Acceptable?”

“Shouldn’t you be asking me?” she interrupted.

“No,” they both answered.

“That answer will get both of you hurt.”

“That’s a good plan.” Luke ignored her glare. “We’ll be twenty minutes outside of town and close enough to get back in an emergency.” He pulled out his phone and dialed numbers. “I just need to call Justin and tell him I’m out of commission for a few days and to reschedule my appointments.”

Luke moved over by the window and was talking on the phone when a deputy walked in with a disk in his hand. Declan popped out the security footage and slid the disk into the slot. The screen popped to life and he paused the video until Luke finished his conversation.

Luke’s brows were drawn together, the fine lines between them deep.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. I’m just having a hard time closing a deal. You can play the tape.”

Declan used the remote, and the video played on the screen. Dec fast-forwarded until closer to their date and then resumed the feed. “Let me know when you see him.”

She pointed toward the end of the bar. “He was sitting here.”

Moments later, a man sat on the stool. The same man she’d seen that night. “That’s him.”

Declan took the feed frame by frame until he had a good shot of the guy’s face and paused it. Judging by the looks of him, he was a tall guy, big framed with a dark tan that might indicate he could be local. He had a small mustache on his face with high cheekbones. He glanced at Luke. “Do you recognize him?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“Why would a complete stranger try to kill us? I don’t get it.” Sky rose and paced the room. “This doesn’t make any sense. Even assuming he was working for Amanda, and she had it out for you, why did he kill her?”