Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(79)

“Cover?”

“I’ll explain later. Ask Bobby. He knows everything—he’s known all along.”

“Okay,” Teri said calmly.

Christie felt as though she might break into tears. “Haven’t you ever wondered about James?”

Teri’s voice fell. “To be honest, yes.”

“James and Bobby go way back—back to when they were in their early teens.”

Her announcement was followed by a short silence. “Bobby and I are staying in a hotel downtown, so you can—”

“I need to talk to James,” Christie broke in. “It’s vital that he know what’s going on.”

“James is driving home to Cedar Cove. He should be there by six-thirty.”

“Okay.”

“Can you tell me any more?”

“It’s too complicated.” With a shaking hand, Christie brushed her hair away from her forehead. “I never guessed…Not in a million years would I have guessed.”

“Christie, you can’t keep me in suspense like this.”

“I can’t tell you right now, so don’t ask me again. Only…”

“Only, what?”

“Tonight when you and Bobby are alone, you might ask him a few questions about James.”

“You think I haven’t already?”

“Just ask, and this time tell him the whole world’s about to learn…everything.”

Christie wanted to kick herself. She’d intended to keep her mouth shut and here she was, practically blurting it all out.

“What do you mean by ‘everything’?” Teri demanded, and from her tone of voice, Christie knew her sister wasn’t going to let this drop.

Teri was like a bloodhound tracking a scent. She was after details, and she wanted them now. Sighing heavily, Christie muttered part of what she’d found out. “Apparently James was born in a town called Wilbur—I think it’s on the East Coast. That’s where he got his surname.”

“Who told you that?”

“The reporter…This is going to be big, Teri. Very big.”

“You’re positive this person is who you think it is?” she asked carefully.

“Yes.” Christie didn’t have a single doubt. “I saw the photos. It’s James, all right. He’s much younger in the pictures, but there’s no mistaking him.”

Her sister spoke in a whisper. “We’re at the hotel. Give me ten minutes and I’ll call you back.”

“Okay, okay.”

Sure enough, exactly nine minutes later, Teri phoned. “You want to talk to James, right?” she said without so much as a greeting. “Alone,” she added. “In a private setting where you won’t be disturbed.”

“Yes…of course.” Christie had to let him know, as soon as possible. “What do you mean, a private setting?” Teri had something in mind.

“Now listen,” Teri continued, sounding authoritative. “James is driving back to Cedar Cove and I’ve asked him to bring some packages into the house.”

“No, he can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“Because the reporter might still be around, looking for him.” Once the article hit the newsstands, it would only be a matter of time before the Seattle stations were hounding James. Then would come CNN and Fox and the other networks, the Internet…

“I thought you told that reporter James was out of town.”

“I did.”

“Then you don’t have anything to worry about.” The reassurance in her voice calmed Christie. “No one can get into the house, so as soon as James arrives he’ll be safe. The gate’s electronically wired and we have the best security system money can buy. No one’s getting in there without a whole lot of trouble, so don’t concern yourself with that.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. Trust me on this. The safest place for you and James is the house.”

“Okay.”

“I want you there waiting for him, got it?”

It was just like Teri to start issuing orders. Except that in this case, Christie didn’t object.

“When James gets there, you’ll have cooked a nice, romantic dinner, complete with soft music and lit candles.”

“Why would I do that?” she asked. They were in the middle of an emergency, and her sister was planning a honeymoon retreat.

“I don’t know what that reporter’s about to expose, but don’t hit James with it first thing. Let him relax and have a nice dinner and then tell him…gently.”

“That’s what you do with Bobby, isn’t it?”

Her sister laughed. “I try, but it doesn’t always work.”

“So you have this all figured out, do you?”

“Yes, and I was pretty clever about it, if I do say so myself.” Teri did seem excited. Weeks earlier she’d given Christie a key so she could house-sit. She and Bobby had spent a getaway weekend at the ocean, and Christie still had the key. She also had the code to the security alarm.

“There’s a salmon fillet in the refrigerator and a really nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in the wine cooler. You’re welcome to them both.”