The darkness beneath, p.10
The Darkness Beneath, page 10
For the most part things had been great since then, but Enid Trainor had knocked Luke’s confidence and although Newt did his best to build it back up, pushing Luke through college and encouraging him to chase his dreams, his younger brother was given to bouts of depression and self-doubt. Stacey was a firecracker and it seemed just recently she and Luke had been permanently at each other’s throats. That wasn’t a good thing. When Luke was up he thought he was omnipotent and was the life and soul of the party, but when he was down he quickly became detached from reality and risked going off the rails.
He was sullen and quiet as they sat down to eat, his mood smothering the room, and Newt could tell Nell was shocked by his change in personality having only seen fun Luke on their previous encounters. Newt and Michael tried their best to cover the awkward moments of silence as Luke pushed his food around the plate like a sullen teenager, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. He perked up slightly when Michael brought up the subject of the guesthouse. Although Newt was concerned for his brother, he found it difficult to contain his excitement once he knew Nell was on board with their proposal, and by the time they had finished dinner and were clearing the plates away, even Luke was joining in with the conversation.
‘I can’t believe we’re actually going to do this.’ Michael was just as excited as Newt and could barely keep the grin off his face.
‘You won’t regret this, Nell,’ Newt assured her, hoping she wouldn’t have a change of heart further down the line. He knew she had been through a lot and it had already been a big step for her to leave Caleb and return to Purity. While he really wanted this, he was conscious that they had to be careful not to push her.
It was after nine when she got up to leave. ‘Did you want a ride home, Luke?’
Newt had suggested Luke stay over with them, not liking the idea of him returning to his empty house and pouring a drink. He saw him waver for a brief moment.
‘I think I’m gonna crash here, but thank you.’
‘No worries. If you want some company some time or to talk through stuff, just let me know.’
‘Thank you, I appreciate that.’ Luke was thoughtful for a moment. ‘How do you fancy dinner tomorrow night?’
Newt saw the brief look of panic on Nell’s face. Her offer had been kind, but had Luke misread it? He was about to step in when his brother smiled.
‘Just to talk,’ he assured her. ‘And get to know each other better since we are practically related.’
Nell still looked a little flustered, but she relaxed slightly. ‘Umm, okay, I guess so.’
‘Shall I come up to the guesthouse around seven?’
‘I… I guess, yes, okay.’
Newt and Michael walked her out to the car.
‘Don’t let him hoodwink you into dinner,’ Newt urged her. ‘He’s harmless, but I know you don’t know him well enough yet. If it’s too much too soon, just say and I will tell him no.’
‘He just wants to be friends, right?’
‘Yeah, and he knows he would have me to deal with if he tried anything on.’
‘Steady up, Mr Macho.’ Newt rolled his eyes at Michael before turning back to Nell. ‘It’s a bad idea. I’ll tell him no.’
‘No, don’t do that.’ Nell smiled, though it looked a little forced. ‘It’s okay. He’s your brother and I know he’s in a bad place right now. Maybe dinner will cheer him up.’
‘If you’re sure it’s okay.’
‘It will do me good to start socializing more. Honestly it’s fine.’
‘If you change your mind you’ll let us know, right?’ Michael questioned.
‘I won’t change my mind. It’s just dinner. And like Luke said, we’re practically related so we should get to know each other better.’ Nell opened the car door. ‘I’ve just remembered I have Alex’s jacket with me. He lives near here, right? I can drop it off on the way home.’
‘Yeah, he’s a couple of minutes along the coast road.’ Michael gave her directions. ‘I’m not sure if he’ll be there or not. I know he’s busy with the case at the moment, but you can leave it on the deck if not. Or give it to me and I’ll drop it off tomorrow.’
‘No, it’s fine. I may as well call in on my way home.’
Spontaneously, Nell reached out and gave them both a hug.
‘What was that for?’ Michael asked, sounding surprised.
She grinned, kissed his cheek. ‘It’s for being there for me, both of you. You have no idea how much it’s appreciated.’
Newt raised a hand as she reversed out of the driveway. It was going to be fine. It was just dinner. Luke needed cheering up and Nell was right, it would do her good to start socializing, and it would hopefully help rebuild her confidence.
Still, he intended to have a word with his brother beforehand, to remind him to be on his best behavior.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Nell pulled up outside the modest two-storey white wooden house Michael had given her directions to. She killed the engine and stepped from the car, Alex’s jacket in hand. His Jeep was out front, but there were no lights on in the front windows, suggesting perhaps he wasn’t home after all. As she made her way up the pathway to the front door, a timer light flashed on highlighting the neat front yard. Inside came the sound of excited barking.
Most likely Teddy, she thought to herself, grinning as she imagined the large scruffy bag of fur going nuts inside.
She rang the doorbell, waited a minute, her thoughts turning back to dinner.
Luke had shocked her tonight and she had barely recognized the man who had sat down at the dinner table as being the same person she had laughed and joked with a couple of days ago. The split in his personality had initially unsettled her, reminding her of Caleb and how dangerous that could be, but it wasn’t fair to compare him to her ex fiancé. Luke was upset because his girlfriend had walked out on him. It was only natural he was going to be a little quiet.
She had put forward the offer to talk because she felt sorry for him, so he had thrown her when he had managed to turn the gesture into dinner. Initially her belly had knotted in fear at the idea, but she quickly berated herself, annoyed at her overreaction. There had been nothing romantic in his suggestion and the dinner would probably do them both good.
Nell was sick of being afraid. It was time to start rebuilding her confidence.
She tried the doorbell again. When there was still no answer, she followed the path that led down the side of the house and up the wide wooden steps onto the deck. It was simple and uncluttered with a wooden bench and a barbecue the only furniture, while various plant pots were scattered around the edge. The location was perfect, offering a prime sea view, and although it was dark, the rising moon seemed to nestle between rocks, casting a silver glow over the ocean. Leaving Alex’s jacket on the bench seat, Nell pulled her phone from her purse and activated the camera. She leaned over the wooden railing and spent a few moments snapping at the view, trying to capture it as best she could in the hope she would be able to later recreate it on a canvas.
In the distance on the beach she spotted a figure running across the sand, close to the water’s edge, silhouette dark and distinctly masculine against the sparkling waves. She snapped another couple of pictures. As the figure neared, she realized it was Alex. Nell waited patiently as he jogged towards the house. He hadn’t spotted her standing in the shadows and, as he approached the top of the steps, he yanked his t-shirt up over his head, giving her a full-on view of lean, toned belly, a smattering of dark hair trailing down from his naval and disappearing into the waistband of his sweatpants.
Her eyes widened, the ‘hi’ she was about to greet him with catching on her tongue.
Enjoying the view, she continued to watch as the t-shirt dropped to the floor and he turned to grab the towel that hung across the railing at the top of the steps, rubbing it over his face and hair, back to her, muscles flexing in broad shoulders, the damp material of his sweatpants clinging to a well-toned butt and narrow hips.
Something stirred inside her and for the first time in a long while it wasn’t fear.
Teddy picked that moment to hurl himself against the French doors, letting out an almighty bark. Nell jumped, stepping back into one of the plant pots, and Alex spun round, looking ready to pounce.
‘Jesus! Nell?’
She lamely raised a hand in greeting. ‘Hi.’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I, umm… I brought your jacket back and I was admiring the view.’ She glanced again at his naked chest, and realizing her choice of words, felt herself flush. ‘The sea view I meant. I didn’t mean… I was enjoying the view… of the ocean,’ she clarified, wishing the ground would swallow her up.
Oh good God, O’Connor. Zip it now.
Alex studied her for a moment, his dark hair damp and curling, clinging to his forehead and the nape of his neck. Realization dawning, he slowly grinned. ‘Okay.’
Seeming amused, he picked his t-shirt up from the decking, slipped the towel over one shoulder and headed across to the French doors. As he unlocked them a joyous Teddy bounded out, jumping up first at Alex and then heading over to greet Nell. Sasha followed, her approach far calmer as she gave Nell’s hand a cursory sniff. She made a fuss of them both as Alex disappeared inside, not sure if she was supposed to follow or not. There was no dignified way out of this situation. Nell had just been caught red-handed checking him out. As she considered the possibility of quietly sloping off back to her car, he called to her.
‘So are you coming in or are you just gonna stand out there?’
There was no dignified way out.
Hesitantly, Nell stepped inside and found him in a galley kitchen at the back of the main living room. She was relieved to see he had put on another t-shirt.
‘Do you want a coffee?’
‘Sure.’
She glanced around the room, taking in the space. It was light and airy, unfussy, but homely. A wide corner couch took up part of the room, facing a flat-screen TV. One wall was filled with shelves. They mostly contained books, with a few ornaments, plants and picture frames.
‘Have you lived here long?’ she asked, uncomfortable and needing to make small talk to try and put things back on a more even level.
‘Five years. You take milk?’
‘Please. What made you decide to move out here? City life not exciting?’
‘Something like that.’
‘Had you been a cop for long before you moved here?’
Alex brought two cups through, handed one to Nell, stepping into her personal space. ‘Do you always ask a lot of questions when you get flustered?’ he asked directly, eyes intently focused on hers awaiting a reaction. He was close enough that she could smell his scent, feel his breath warm on her face. She felt another stirring inside, recognized it this time for exactly what it was. Lust.
‘I’m not flustered!’ She snapped the words a little too defensively, taking a step back as she felt her cheeks flame. ‘I was making conversation.’
‘Okay.’
Okay? What was that supposed to mean?
He was looking a little smug, which cranked her irritation level up a notch. Fair enough, she had been checking him out, and, okay, yes, she would concede she found him attractive. But so what? It was irrelevant. Forget the fact he was her brother’s best friend, he was also the chief of police, plus, of course, she wasn’t looking for romance, a fling, hot sex, whatever. After everything she had been through with Caleb, she wanted a break from men, period. She had simply come here to return his jacket and suddenly things seemed different between them. On their previous encounters she had been Michael’s sister and a witness who had found a severed head. He had been so good with her that night, kind and patient, helping her through the panic attack. Tonight was different, and the air crackled with unexpected tension.
‘The woman I found… has she been identified yet?’
It was a pertinent question, one Nell was curious to know the answer to, and it also moved the conversation back into safer territory. She had spent much of the past two days thinking about the head on the beach and who the victim was. How she had ended up dead.
Had it been a random attack or had the woman been killed by someone she knew and trusted?
Nell thought back to Caleb. There had been times in their relationship where she had wondered if he would one day snap and go too far. It was scary how he could go from calm and rational to crazy-angry in the blink of an eye.
‘We have an ID, but it’s not public yet. Her folks are flying out tonight. They’re coming over to the island in the morning.’ He moved past her as he talked, whistled to Teddy and Sasha. Both dogs trotted in, Sasha moving with the grace of a panther, Teddy bounding behind like an oversized baby goat. Alex closed the French doors, moved to sit on the couch, and stared up at her, amusement in his moss green eyes, and seeming to find her embarrassment entertaining.
Nell remained standing, still feeling awkward. She held her cup with both hands, took a slow sip of her coffee. ‘Do you think you’ll find the rest of her?’
‘We’re trying.’
She understood he was limited on what he could share with her. It was an active investigation and still in the early stages. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine how her family must be feeling.’
As she spoke she broke away from the scrutiny in his gaze and glanced out of the French doors towards the ocean. Knowing the rest of the woman’s body was out there somewhere, a shiver ran down her spine.
‘You tell Michael yet about the guesthouse?’
Alex’s question broke her thoughts. ‘Yeah, I actually just came from his place.’ She turned to look at him before eyeing the couch. Tentatively she took a seat, perching on the far corner.
Not too close.
‘He’s pretty excited. I think it’s something he and Newt have wanted to do for a while. They have a ton of plans.’
‘I know he is and it will make him feel easier knowing you’re not always up in the guesthouse alone.’
Nell shot him a look, bristling with irritation. ‘I’m thirty-four years old. I don’t need my brother to babysit me.’ Her reaction was unnecessary, especially as Alex had already seen her at her weakest, but she stuck out her chin defiantly anyway, needing to create a boundary between them.
‘He worries about you.’
‘I know, and I appreciate it, but I need my own space too. It’s been a huge thing for me coming back here and I need time to put my life back together.’
‘Your ex was an asshole.’ It wasn’t a question, more an observation.
‘He was used to being in control and getting his own way,’ Nell said diplomatically. She wasn’t up for a conversation about Caleb’s true nature. ‘This is a fresh start for me and I can’t do it with Michael breathing down my neck.’
‘He’s terrified this Caleb guy is going to figure out where you are, so cut him some slack, okay? He’s just looking out for you.’
‘I know, but as I told you before, I was careful. Caleb won’t find me.’ At Alex’s half-cocked brow Nell sighed. ‘Why do I get the feeling I have two of you looking out for me now?’
Alex studied her for a moment, but didn’t answer the question. ‘It’s getting late,’ he said eventually, getting up and lifting her cup from her hand. ‘You should go home.’
Nell’s jaw gaped. One minute he was inviting her into his house, the next he was asking her to leave. ‘You’re kicking me out?’
‘I have an early start tomorrow. Our dead girl’s folks are going to be here on the first ferry.’
‘Sure.’ Nell understood. She didn’t envy the task he faced. Still, she felt there was something else behind the sudden decision to get her to leave. But she didn’t push it, thanked Alex for the coffee and fished her car keys from her purse.
‘You get those locks sorted yet?’
‘It’s on the list.’ And it was on the list as a priority. Nell just didn’t have the cash available to pay out for a locksmith. Pride had so far stopped her asking Michael for the money, but she guessed it wasn’t so bad now they were partners. And she would feel far safer in the house once all of the doors and windows had new locks.
Alex gave her a frustrated look. ‘So you keep saying.’
‘I will get it done this week, I promise.’
As she stepped out on to the porch, he caught hold of her arm.
‘Nell?’
She turned, brow raised.
‘I want you to text me when you get back, so I know you’re home safe.’
When her brow arched higher, he glared at her. ‘Just humor me, okay? I have a murdered woman in the morgue and until I figure out what happened, I’m not taking any chances.’
‘Sure thing, Dad.’
His lips curved and he lightly skimmed his fingertips down her arm. Nell felt her belly quiver. Annoyed, she tried to ignore it.
‘Text me.’
She forced a smile. ‘Will do.’
*
Nell pulled up on the driveway of the guesthouse fifteen minutes later and fished her phone out of her purse, firing off a quick message to Alex.
‘Home safe. No one hiding in the bushes.’
She knew the tone of the message was facetious, but couldn’t help it. Something had awoken in her tonight and it left her feeling unsettled.
Stepping out of the vehicle she took a moment to draw in a deep breath. The air was fresh with the mingled scent of pines and the salty sea air, a familiar fragrance conjuring a dozen warm memories; she took a moment, let it flood her senses. Despite her gruesome find on the beach and the encounter with Sam Kent, she couldn’t bring herself to regret the move back to Purity. Everything about it felt pretty much right.
