Dangerous thaw, p.11
Dangerous Thaw, page 11
She inhaled sharply. “Please tell me there’s not another dead body.”
“No dead body. Just one shaken-up Museum Director.”
They pulled into the parking lot of the museum to a familiar sight these days. Law enforcement agencies, CSI teams, and media. Stacy, Winston, and Lorelai were interviewing the forensics team and police. Hank guided Olivia over to the Sheriff and Director.
“Hank. Olivia.” The Sheriff nodded at them. “Mr. Turner, can you fill Agent Masters and Dr. Jones in on what happened this evening?”
The man ran a hand over his short brown ponytail and then his goatee, seeming unnerved. “You can call me Nolan.” He shook his head. “I was the last one here other than the security detail out front. I had just locked the doors and headed for my car when I realized I’d forgotten my satchel. I went back in and heard noises coming from the storage room where we keep the art.”
“I thought Deputy Granger had Larry install a security alarm and new locks.” Hank looked around. “It doesn’t look like anyone broke in. Did the security detail hear anything?”
“No one heard a thing and no one broke in. I always do a sweep of the museum to make sure all the visitors are gone before I lock up. I didn’t see anyone, but they must have been hiding out until I closed.”
“They?”
“There was definitely more than one voice.”
“Was anything taken?”
Nolan’s eyes grew somber. “Yes. The art for the Food, Wine, and Art Festival auction. They must have heard me shout out “who’s there?,” because the noise stopped. I don’t like guns, but with a killer on the loose, I grabbed a samurai sword we had on display.”
Hank raised an eyebrow at Trent, who narrowed his gaze at Nolan.
“I didn’t use it on anyone,” Nolan clarified, “but I wasn’t about to go into that room unarmed.”
“You had one of my men right out front on detail. You should have gone to get him first. That’s what he’s there for.” Trent ran a hand over his face, clearly frustrated.
“I didn’t want to waste time going for help,” Nolan said defensively. “It didn’t matter anyway. When I went in the room, they were gone, and the window was open.”
“I don’t blame you, Nolan.” Olivia picked at a hangnail, and Hank wanted to hold her hand, but others were watching. “You don’t know what these people are capable of.”
“Exactly. When Fay was murdered, the front door was unlocked.” Nolan looked sad for a moment, but then he pursed his lips before adding, “I thought she was having an affair and that she let her lover in.”
“That’s not a bad hypothesis. There weren’t any signs of a struggle on her,” Olivia confirmed, her hands stilling as she focused on the case.
“But now, I wonder if it wasn’t her lover. Maybe these same people had been hiding out on her, too.” Nolan puckered his brow for a moment. “Maybe she didn’t struggle because she knew them.”
“Were you in love with Fay Allenby?” Hank asked.
Nolan blinked, his lips parting. He snapped them together before answering. “I-I had strong feelings for Fay, yes, but she was my boss. A relationship with her wouldn’t have been appropriate.”
“No, but it might have angered you to see her having an affair with someone else,” Trent speculated.
“An affair was likely, given the evidence showed she had sex, but wasn’t raped,” Olivia added objectively.
“You said you left before Fay the evening of her murder, and found her the next morning.” Trent paced as he talked. “Did you, in fact, forget something that night as well? Maybe you came back and stumbled upon her being intimate with her lover. You waited until her lover left, and then you killed her in a fit of rage, waiting until morning to call the police, claiming to have just discovered her.” Trent studied Nolan who had begun to sweat.
“If you couldn’t have her, then no one could, and now you have her job. A job that should have been yours in the first place, given your background and that you’re older and more experienced than she was,” Hank added.
Nolan’s face paled. “How do you know that?”
Hank stared him down. “It’s my job to know that.”
“You’re all crazy.” Nolan backed up a step.
“Have you heard of The Cattleman Killer?” Trent asked.
“Who hasn’t? But why would I choose a killer from Florida who disappeared for years? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Hank watched him closely, but it was clear either he didn’t know who Olivia used to be, or he was one hell of an actor. Hank shot a glance at Olivia, but she had her walls up, her face devoid of emotion.
Nolan threw his hands in the air. “If I had known I would get this kind of scrutiny, I never would have reported the theft.”
“Stealing is a crime, Mr. Turner,” Trent said. “You had no choice but to report the theft, but I’m not the one you should be afraid of.”
Nolan eyed the Sheriff warily. “Who is?”
“Mayor Flemming. Laura is going to be livid when she finds out the art for her auction is gone.”
“Thank you.” Olivia looked at Hank as they sat on her back patio, having coffee the next morning. It was late spring now, and the days were growing warmer, everything in full bloom, with smells of new growth in the air. The red wine stain was still on her cement, but it had faded considerably.
“Thank me for what?” Hank eyed her curiously, his thick, golden-blond hair messy from sleep. He needed to shave, but he’d never looked better to her. The way that he looked at her with those deep blue eyes melted her heart.
“For staying with me.” She cradled her cup of coffee and inhaled the smooth, bold aroma. She was in over her head. Falling for him hard. And she had no idea what to do about it.
“Thank you for letting me.” He winked, and her stomach fluttered.
“Sorry I passed out on you last night. I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”
“You needed to sleep.”
She lowered her voice. “You could have slept in my bed.”
He hesitated a moment. “Not a good idea. I need to stay alert.”
“I have a guest bedroom. You didn’t have to sleep on the couch.”
“I couldn’t afford to get distracted.” His gaze slowly traced over her body. “Let’s face it, staying anywhere near you is distracting as hell.”
She felt her ears heat, so she looked away and blew on her coffee.
He cleared his throat. “The last time I spent the night, I let my guard down.”
She looked up at him and met his eyes, seeing his fill with heat and passion. Her gaze dropped to his lips. “Is that so bad?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his voice.
That got her attention and had her snapping her gaze back up to his eyes. “Oh, I see.” She stood and walked over to the edge of the patio, feeling like a fool.
She felt his presence behind her. “No, you don’t see.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind and dropped his chin to rest on top of her head. She lifted her hands up and wrapped them around his forearms.
He turned her around to face him. “It wasn’t so bad, Liv.” She loved when he called her by her nickname. “It was amazing. You’re amazing. But we can’t do that again.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips and stepped back from her.
“W-Why not?” she croaked, as her own desires nearly choked her.
He cursed softly. “You have to stop looking at me that way.” He walked back to his chair.
“What way?” She licked her lips and did the same.
He groaned and tore his gaze away from her mouth to look out over the water and take a sip of scalding black coffee. “After we made love, I could have sworn I saw someone outside. I know I heard voices.” His face hardened. “I know what this real monster is capable of.” His voice filled with raw emotion. “I’ll be damned if I sit back and let it happen again.”
“Happen again?” Why did she have a feeling he was talking about something more than just her.
“Last time, I let the case run cold. It was my fault. I owed more than that to all the women who died way too young because of him. I’m going to do better.” A muscle in his jaw flexed. “I’m going to stop him for good this time, whatever the cost. I won’t let you, or them, down again. I can promise you that.”
“Hey.” She sat on his lap and took his face in her hands, pressing her lips softly against his. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” He held her tight. “But it will be.”
Hank followed Olivia to work, and once she was securely in her lab, he headed over to the Sheriff’s office. He was falling hard for her. Dammit. How could he have let this happen? After all she had been through, she didn’t need him coming in and turning her life upside down. He didn’t want to hurt her. He had a job to do.
No matter what, that had to be his number one priority.
He poked his head through the Sheriff’s office door. “Hey, Trent. You wanted to see me?”
Trent motioned him in and hung up the phone. “I just got off the phone with a colleague of mine. Bartholomew Vanderholt just confessed.”
“Who’s that?” Hank sat in a chair across from Trent’s desk.
“Penelope Kensington’s ex-fiancé.”
Hank’s brows drew together. “You’re telling me he murdered her?”
“That’s right. She called off their engagement, and he couldn’t handle that. He was embarrassed and angry. I guess he’s used to getting what he wants, and his ego took a big hit when she left him.”
“I bet. Those guys are all alike.” Hank ground his teeth before asking, “What did he do to her?”
“He took her out on his boat, they argued, and then he hit her over the head in a fit of rage. She fell off the boat and went under. He tried to find her but couldn’t, so he panicked. Not sure if she was alive or dead, he paid people he knew to give him an alibi.”
“Of course, he did.” Hank clenched his jaw. He was so sick of men who mistreated women.
“Everyone thought she took off somewhere on an adventure. She was known to do that, and had plenty of money. It wasn’t until she washed ashore in The Cove that people realized she was not only dead, but had been murdered. Her father hired a top-notch team of investigators who put the clues together that led back to good ole’ Bart.”
“What about the art connection?”
“There is a string of art thefts happening up and down the coast, and Penelope happens to have a fine art collection, but I’m beginning to think these murders don’t have anything to do with that.”
“Then why did the collection for the auction get stolen?”
“That’s why I called you here.” Trent’s face grew serious. “That is the million-dollar question we need an answer to.”
Hank took off his sport coat. “Then let’s get to it.”
12
“This is a disaster, David.” Laura sat across from David Garcia and his assistants at The Claw for dinner. The place was packed as usual. She normally loved the nautical-themed ambiance and classic rock music, but not tonight. She had way too much going on in both her professional and her personal life at the moment.
Tonight, she was on edge.
David held up his hands. “Just calm down. It’s not the end of the world. I’ll figure something out.”
“Calm down?” Laura gaped at him. “Do you know who you’re talking to?” The man was a piece of work. He was clearly used to getting his way when it came to women.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, looking more unsettled than she’d ever seen him. “Sorry, Ms. Mayor. It’s been a long couple of days.”
“So I’ve heard.” Laura glanced over at Tia, who sat with her brothers at a table across the room. They hadn’t taken their eyes off him since he came in.
Hannah softly grunted but didn’t say a word, her slicked-back, put-together attitude in stark contrast to her actions. She tucked a strand of her short hair behind her hoop-clad ears and pushed her chic glasses up her nose as she stared down at her pad of paper and took notes.
Ken-Doll Jude rolled his eyes in a not-so-subtle way.
“Okay, let me think.” David was quiet for a moment before he continued. “I have many connections. Maybe I can get a few people to make donations for the art auction.”
“Well, you’d better do something.” Laura stared at him, making sure her points sank in. “Tia locked in the Hamilton Barn for the venue, but it won’t be much of a gala without the art auction.”
“I’m on it. I’ll make some calls. A few people owe me some favors. Trust me.” David undid the top button of his designer shirt and loosened the collar.
Another grunt sounded from Hannah, and Jude cleared his throat.
Laura narrowed her eyes at them all and then looked at her watch. “All right, well, if that’s all, I have the twins’ swim meet to get to.”
“We’ll talk soon.” David nodded at Laura and then faced his crew with a muscle bulging from his clenched jaw. “Hannah. Jude. Can you guys stick around? We have a few things we need to get clear.”
Laura paid for the meal and left the three at the table with their heads bent together, looking like their conversation had turned intensely serious. She couldn’t worry about that now. She had a town to save, no matter the cost. She owed that to Stacy and Stacy’s mother, the former mayor, Elizabeth Buchanan, who had been like a mother to Laura as well.
Stopping by Tia’s table, Laura smiled at Tia’s brothers. “It’s good to see you gentlemen. How is our town treating you?”
“Not too bad.” Dijon’s gaze shot over to Garcia, and his eyes narrowed. “For the most part.”
Tia rolled her eyes at Laura, and Laura bit back a chuckle.
“Can’t complain,” Calvin responded. “People are friendly, and business is picking up, so it’s a win-win. If only Tia wasn’t such a slacker.”
“Hey.” Tia smacked him lightly on the arm.
Calvin laughed and shrugged.
“Brothers.” Tia shook her head.
“Men.” Laura lifted her hands.
They all laughed.
“Seriously, though, I’m glad you’re all settling in nicely.” Laura looked around the pub at so many faces she knew and adored. People were counting on her, and the pressure was becoming a little overwhelming. “Our town can use all the help it can get, between the natural disasters and the recent murders. We don’t need any more setbacks, and I appreciate all you’re doing to help bring new people in.”
“We’ve gotten a few calls for residential inquiries as well as businesses looking for properties to expand, since the Spring Festival,” Tia responded. “I think the Food, Wine, and Art Festival will bring in the most.”
“Speaking of that, did you get my deposit for the gala venue?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you. I emailed you a receipt, so check your inbox when you get back to your office. Let me know if you don’t get it.”
“I will.”
“Will there even be a gala without the art auction?” Calvin asked.
“There has to be an auction. The town depends on it.” Laura rubbed her temples. “David is contacting some people he knows who owe him a few favors.”
“I’ll make some calls as well.” Dijon watched as David and his team left the restaurant. “Garcia isn’t the only one with connections.”
“That would be fantastic.” Laura smiled. “Thank you all so much.” She glanced at her watch again and groaned. Tommy wasn’t going to be happy with her if she was late for something else again. “I really must run. I look forward to hearing from you soon.” She waved and made her way outside to the marina parking lot, and then stopped short. What else could possibly go wrong?
Derks, Bryce, and Miley were waiting by her car.
She held up her hands before they could speak. “I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to make an appointment if you want to speak with me.”
Her work/life balance hadn’t been so great lately, and her husband was at his wits’ end with her. She understood completely, and would be frustrated with him if the tables were turned. She loved her job as mayor, but now that her daughters were getting older, their schedules were busier. It was hard to juggle being a wife, mother, and the mayor, and do a good job at all of them. She needed an assistant, but the town’s budget couldn’t afford that until it got back on its feet.
This last festival needed to pay off in a big way, and that started with the art.
“Just give me five minutes,” Derks said.
Laura stepped around him and unlocked her car. “I don’t have five minutes, Mr. Calloway. I wish I did. I could use five minutes myself. I truly am sorry.” She climbed into her car and closed the door, swearing she heard the words “you will be” as she drove away.
Looking in her rear-view mirror as she left the marina, she watched the coaches in a heated argument with each other and wondered what that was all about.
“Wow, and he cooks, too.” Olivia watched Hank work his magic at her stove, wearing a pair of gray FBI sweatpants and a dark blue, form-fitting t-shirt that matched his eyes.
He looked over his shoulder and winked. “Someone has to feed us, and I’ve experienced your cooking.” He shot her a horrified look. “No offense.”
The smells of homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs had her mouth watering and stomach growling. “No offense taken. I’ve experienced my cooking, too.” She laughed. “Take-out was my best friend during medical school.”
“Growing up, my mom made us all take turns cooking.”
“Us all?”
“My younger brother, sister, stepfather, mother, and myself. We each had to pick a night to cook. Then on the weekends we ordered take out on one night and went out to eat on the other.”
“Smart woman.” Olivia set the table while Hank talked.
“The experience set me up well for being on my own.” He smiled as he sliced the Italian bread, put it in a basket, and brought it to the table.
