Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(23)
The woman’s eyes widened at his name. She’d probably heard the rumors. He shook their hands. “Sorry to bother you, but I’m investigating my brother’s death.” He looked at Luke. “You were first on the scene?”
Luke glanced at Claire, then back to Drake. “Actually, Claire and her sister found the bodies.”
Claire’s eyes got even wider. “You’re Heath Emerson’s brother? Your last name is different.”
“Yes, he’s my older half brother. His father died when Heath was two. Then my father married our mother when Heath was four.”
Her gaze softened. “I’m sorry for your loss. There isn’t much we can tell you though. My sister, Kate, saw the bodies on the ledge, and she ran toward the water. We didn’t see anything or hear any arguments. Does Kate know you’re Mr. Emerson’s brother?”
“Kate?”
“Kate Mason.” Claire smiled. “You hired her yesterday for your nanny position. Your girls will love her.”
Kate. Drake held up his hand. “Wait a second. Your sister is Kate Mason?” When she nodded, he exhaled. “Why didn’t she tell me who she was when I interviewed her?”
Claire straightened and tipped up her chin. Her blue eyes were steely. “She didn’t know who you were. All she knows is that the girls are orphaned. And besides, how does that impact her qualifications to care for the children?”
“Of course it impacts them. The girls will be upset if they hear she found Heath’s and Melissa’s bodies.” He shook his head, then tossed his business card onto the sheriff’s desk. “E-mail me the autopsies. I need to talk to Kate.”
*
The strong smell of paint permeated the room in spite of the breeze wafting through the open windows. Kate put down the paint roller and smiled. The pale-gray color was exactly what she’d had in mind, and it contrasted beautifully with the designer white trim she’d painted a couple of days ago. Drake and the girls could move in as soon as the living room furniture was delivered.
Her sweet sister had insisted on going with her to a discount furniture place yesterday in Ellsworth, and Claire purchased a new sofa and chairs for her. Kate intended to repay every dime as soon as Drake paid her.
The distressed pine table and chairs in the kitchen had been salvaged from a garage sale, and Kate had done the paint treatment on it herself. New bedding added a nice touch in the bedrooms. While it might not meet Drake’s usual standards in Boston, the cottage would make a lovely summer home.
Tires crunched on the gravel outside, and she looked through the window to see Drake unfold his long legs from under the steering wheel of his Land Rover. He was alone, and his stride was purposeful as he approached the front door.
She answered his knock with a smile. “The cottage should be ready in a couple more days. Want to see?”
His scowl faltered for a moment, then came surging back. “We need to talk.”
She stepped back and studied his tight jaw and hooded eyes. “What’s wrong?” Was it something she’d done or said? Did he hate the cottage now? If he didn’t rent it, she’d be unable to pay back Claire. “Come in.”
He strode past her, pausing briefly to look around. “Nice color.”
“Thanks. I like it.” She gestured to the kitchen doorway. “I can put on some coffee if you like. I’ve got bottled water too.”
“I just had coffee with breakfast.” He folded his arms across his chest and stared at her. “Were you ever going to tell me you found my brother’s body? Talk about feeling like a fool this morning. I rented your cottage and hired you as a nanny, and you didn’t even bother to tell me something that important.”
She blinked and tried to make sense of what he’d just said. “Your brother’s body? I don’t understand.” She didn’t know another Newham, did she?
“You and your sister found Melissa and Heath. Don’t try to tell me you forgot. People don’t forget that kind of horrific event. You should have told me instead of making me find out coincidentally from your sister.”
She felt the blood drain from her head. “Heath and Melissa Emerson are the girls’ parents?”
“I’m sure my name was mentioned in the newspaper as the only surviving relative.” But a hint of doubt had crept into his voice. “And you heard me talk yesterday about how they’d both died.”
She shook her head. “You didn’t mention their names, just that law enforcement suspected your brother had killed his wife, then himself. I thought they’d died in Boston from the way you talked. I saw the Emersons had two daughters, of course, and that broke my heart. I’d been praying for them, but I’m terrible with names. I’m sorry.”
She reached a hand toward him, expecting him to step back, but he didn’t. She held on to his arm, and he stared down at her as if trying to read her intentions. Her inclination was to look away from his intense stare, but she forced herself to hold his gaze until he finally nodded.
“You have to admit it looked a little suspicious. I felt as though you’d deliberately pulled the wool over my eyes, that you were one of those gawkers who like to prey on other people’s grief.”
She pulled her hand away before she couldn’t restrain herself from slapping him or something equally violent. How dare he say something like that? He didn’t even know her. “You stopped here out of the blue looking for a place to rent. I hadn’t even decided to rent it yet.”