Dani Sinclair - Return To Stony Ridge

“What sort of safe refuge?”

Exasperated, she set down her fork and pushed aside her plate. “If I told you that, it wouldn’t be safe.”

“You think I’d hurt her?” he demanded.

“I don’t know you, do I?” she replied, mimicking his earlier words to her.

His eyes narrowed. “You could be working for her husband.”

“And you could be the person she met out by the fountain,” she countered.

His penetrating gaze would unnerve most people. She was far from immune, but Teri forced herself to hold his gaze steadily, even though her heart thudded against her chest.

Without comment, he set her gun on the table and stood, carrying his dishes to the sink. For a moment, Teri was stunned. The relief hit her hard. Her fingers trembled as she picked up the gun and tucked it into her waistband. Without a word, she gathered her dishes and joined him at the sink.

“What made you decide in my favor?”

“Who said I have?”

They proceeded to neaten the kitchen in silence while she seethed. He was the most arrogant, annoying man. Then she saw an answering anger simmering in his gaze.

“So why did you give me back my gun if you don’t trust me?”

“Stupidity. On the other hand, I can always take it back from you if you try anything.”

Arrogant, obnoxious… “You think so?”

“We both know so.”

She wondered if she should have kept the steak knife instead of replacing it this morning. Lucky watched them anxiously, sensing the tension in the air. Teri swallowed down a hot reply. She needed R.J.’s help, not his anger. But the man did know how to infuriate her.

“I’m pretty sure her husband knows she came here, R.J.”

“So you said.”

“I also think he followed her here. I think he got to her the other night.”

That made him pause. “How?”

“The same way I did. Your e-mail message. Your name, Stony Ridge and Heartskeep were all mentioned.”

“I meant, how do you think he got to her?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He called her cell phone.” R.J. didn’t respond.

“Look, Lester won’t be satisfied with hurting Valerie. He’s going to come after you next for helping her.”

“I sincerely hope so.”

His expression clearly said he’d relish the idea.

“You’re a fool. I may not have done my research on Valerie, but I did on Lester. The man is dangerous.”

R.J.’s expression hardened. “I can be dangerous, too.”

The hairs on the back of her neck raised. She didn’t doubt his words. There was a core of steel in his tone. Just maybe he’d be a match for Lester.

“Earlier you said you broke into their house?”

She shifted at that steady stare. “Not exactly.”

“What…exactly?”

Teri released a breath and reminded herself that she needed his trust. “I let myself in through an unlocked window. But that’s not the point. I think Lester killed her.”

For a long minute, R.J. didn’t move. He didn’t speak, but his features clearly showed a starkly dangerous side to the man. Then his normal expression settled into place.

“That’s a strong statement.”

She managed not to shudder. “Yes.”

“Why would he kill her?”

Could she make him understand? Would it matter if he did?

“Lester is not what he appears to be. Most people who meet him will tell you he’s one step from a halo.”

“Murderer to saint is a pretty far leap.”

She was no longer fooled by his mild tone. “Not as far as you might think. You haven’t met him yet.” She set her jaw, unwilling to get into a discussion about Lester Boyington. “Look, if you really care about Valerie, help me.”

His eyebrows lifted. “How?”

“Take me to Heartskeep and introduce me to the people who were there.”

“The police have already talked to everyone.”

“Female officers?”

He didn’t respond.

“These are women who’ve been abused, right? I can get them to tell me things they may not want to tell a male authority figure.”

She knew R.J. didn’t trust her, but he wanted Valerie found. If there was even a chance she could deliver, Teri felt sure he’d take the risk.

“And you think they’ll tell a private investigator things they wouldn’t tell Wyatt?”

“Maybe. I think it’s worth a shot, don’t you? Someone must have seen something.”

“Not necessarily. It was dark. And you haven’t seen Heartskeep.”

“Then show me. Tell people I’m an acquaintance of yours.”

“Who happens to be a private investigator?”

She met him glare for glare. His eyes fell first.

“Wyatt won’t appreciate interference in his investigation.”

The knot of tension in the pit of her stomach eased. He was going to help.

“Let me worry about your police chief.”

He set the last dish in the dishwasher before answering. “I’ll see about moving that branch from the driveway. Then we’ll see if we can get your car out of the mud.”

“I’ll give you a hand.”

“Ever use a chain saw?”

“Power tools don’t scare me.”

“What does?”

She met the challenge without flinching. She could have told him, but she didn’t. And a few hours later, after she got her first glimpse of Heartskeep, Teri decided the huge old mansion might have to be added to her short list.

The wrought-iron gates that protected the vast grounds were intricately shaped, but, to her mind, dark and towering and intimidating. She waited in her mud-splattered car behind R.J.’s large truck while he spoke into the call box near the mouth of the gate. Then he punched a series of numbers into the box. After what seemed like a long wait, the gates slowly swung open.

If all it took was a pass code and R.J. had the code, he could have gotten inside whenever he wanted. So could anyone else. Or was it necessary to call first and be given a code? She didn’t know much about security systems, but Valerie had gone missing so there was some way to beat them. Teri had no doubt that Lester had discovered that way.

The long, fog-cloaked driveway with its dripping trees was disturbing, but it did little to prepare a first-time-visitor for the impact of the house itself. The enormous structure squatted in the center of a clearing shrouded in mist. Dismally, its many windows reflected the gnarled, half-dressed trees and the bleak fall sky overhead.

“Welcome to Heartskeep,” she muttered out loud.

If houses had souls, this one would be old and splotched with secrets.

Teri tried to quell her apprehension as she followed R.J. and Lucky onto the wide front porch. The imposing front door was unlocked. Because someone knew they were coming or did they leave it that way? Without knocking, RJ ushered her into a hall much too large for the purpose.

Though attempts had been made to make the insides cheerful with the use of colorful, welcoming fabrics, nothing could be done to shrink its overwhelming size. Heartskeep would never be a homey sort of place to anyone who wasn’t fond of grand hotels.

The woman who bustled forward to greet them exuded the warmth the estate lacked. Kathy Walsh was probably in her midfifties. A slim, well-preserved woman with sad but friendly eyes, her expression showed concern and a trace of alarm.

“R.J., I’m so glad you came by. We have a bit of a situation. Alexis insisted on coming in this morning and now she’s in labor. I’ve been trying to reach Wyatt, but either he turned off his cell phone or he’s out of range. I don’t want to call the dispatcher because at this point I’m not sure he’d have time to get here anyhow. Alexis needs to get to the hospital right away. Can you take us in your truck?”

“Of course.” R.J. strode into the enormous open room clearly visible from the front door. A group of women clustered around an attractive, very pregnant young woman bent over in a high-backed chair. She looked up ruefully as R.J. reached her.