Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(13)
She pushed herself away from Luke and curled her hands into fists. “I want some kind of weapon. Bear spray, a gun, something.”
His brown eyes held pity as he looked from the woman back to Claire. “Let’s not overreact, sweetheart. The sheriff may find this woman’s killer right off. But I’ll make sure you have some bear spray on you. And I’ll stay close until we know what’s going on.”
At least he realized what had happened to this woman. A small-craft motor echoed over the waves, then grew louder until she could see the warden-service insignia on the side. Kevin docked and strode across the rocks to meet them.
His gaze went straight to the dead woman, and he winced. “You okay, Claire?”
How did she answer that? Finding this kind of crime in her seemingly safe little town was like finding a poisonous spider in a banana. She might never feel safe again. No woman would until this killer was found.
When she didn’t answer, he stooped to touch the woman’s neck. “Rigor mortis has set in.”
She shuddered when she remembered the stiff, cold flesh. “I noticed.”
He stood and looked around. It was going to be difficult to find footprints since this area was covered with rocks. Claire stood in the shelter of Luke’s embrace as Kevin swept the area for clues. In the distance came the wail of an ambulance, but it was too late for this poor woman. Much too late.
SEVEN
The hotel suite, lavishly decorated in pinks and golds, looked out on the blue waters of Sunset Cove. Drake strolled the suite with his aunt on his heels. Two bedrooms, one on each side of the large living area, had their own bathrooms. The girls would like their massive jetted tub and the gleaming stainless-steel fixtures.
Aunt Dixie grunted as they returned to the living room with its overstuffed leather furniture. “You made of money, boy? One night here would cost me a week’s income.”
He grinned. “I’m doing all right. People like my drones.” His smile faded and he stared at his aunt. “What do people here say about Heath’s and Melissa’s deaths?”
Her gaze narrowed, and she adjusted the pencil holding her salt-and-pepper hair in its bun. “That Heath killed her, then killed himself.”
He pressed his lips together and looked out the huge window to the water. “I don’t believe it.”
She sank onto the sofa. “You know something. I can see it. What have you found out?”
“Heath’s office was handling the defense of Chen Wang, a Chinese crime lord the FBI has been after for over ten years. Heath received threats from the organization that if Wang went to jail for murder, Heath and his family would be dead the next day.”
“But the trial hasn’t happened yet, right?”
He shook his head. “It’s not for another three months. But I think it’s related somehow.”
“But why would Wang kill the man who was defending him?”
“Maybe he thought Heath was mishandling the trial, and he’d punish him, then get a new attorney. Or maybe it’s not Wang at all. Maybe a rival drug lord ordered it. If Wang went to jail, he’d be out of the way.” Drake ran his hand through his hair. “I’m just trying to look at all the angles.”
He went to sit on the sofa opposite his aunt. “Someone broke into my house and rifled through my office. Whoever got in knew how to turn off the alarm. So I threw the girls’ things in a suitcase, turned my business over to the plant manager, and came here to investigate on my own.”
A frown settled between Dixie’s eyes. “Good heavens, boy, what makes you think you’re any safer here? At least in the city, a police car is minutes away.”
On the surface his decision didn’t make much sense, but he knew in his gut that his brother’s death would go unsolved if he didn’t investigate it himself. The sheriff believed it was a murder/ suicide, and Drake had no real proof other than instinct. Instinct had served him well all his life, and he wasn’t going to discount it now.
Dixie eyed his face when he didn’t answer. “I see your mind is made up. You be extra careful with those children there. Bring them to me when you go on your wild-goose chase.”
“You’re still working at the post office. I’m looking to hire a nanny. I’ll make sure they are safe before I go sleuthing. Know of a good nanny in the area?”
She huffed and pressed her thin lips together. “I’ll think on it, but this makes me spleeny, Drake. Some high schooler won’t be able to handle those girls. They need someone with depth and discipline.”
“So find me one. They need to be kept busy and happy while I investigate. I don’t want some starched librarian who raps them on their heads with a ruler if they don’t mind.”
She shook her finger at him. “Discipline didn’t hurt you any.”
She had that right. Their parents were loving, but he and Heath had toed the line. Still, his heart ached at the pain his nieces were experiencing. They just needed to have a good time this summer and try to move on. “I wasn’t planning on getting a high schooler but someone with maturity. Let me know if you think of anyone.”
His cell phone rang, and he looked at the screen. It was a local number he didn’t recognize. “Drake Newham.”
“Hello, Mr. Newham, this is Kate Mason.”