Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(36)

She shuddered and shook her head. “Let’s get inside in case he comes back. We have to call for help. He’ll get away.”

He pulled out his phone and called 911 to report it, then helped her up. “The sheriff is on his way.”

She limped a little as he assisted her toward the cottage. She kept glancing back as if she expected her uncle to break out of the trees at any minute and shoot them down. The way she trembled made him hurry toward the house. The guy could be circling around to the back, and Drake wanted to make sure the girls were all right. He got her up the steps and into the house.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, Kate threw the dead bolt. “Make sure the back door is locked.”

“It is. I locked it a little while ago. Let’s get you warm and dry.” He grabbed a throw from the back of the sofa and draped it around her. She looked like she’d been swimming in her clothes.

“Thanks.” She clutched it around her.

He told her about the raccoon incident earlier in the evening. “I saw your light was on awfully late, but I didn’t see you outside. What’s happened? I can see you’re upset.”

“I couldn’t sleep and warmed some milk that I took to the back porch. Uncle Paul grabbed me and made me go to the woods with him.”

“Come in the kitchen, and I’ll make you some toast and coffee.”

She limped as she trailed after him to the small kitchen. “I’m filthy from the cave.”

He paused with the coffee tin in his hands. “What cave?”

“My uncle had a fake passport and money stashed in a cave in the woods. It was too small of a space for him to get into, so he made me retrieve it. He said if I tried to run he’d torch Claire’s house with Luke and her in it.” She sank onto a chair at the table. “Could I have a wet paper towel?”

His mind raced as he wet a piece of paper towel. “If he wanted his passport and money, he’s likely heading out of the country.” He handed it to her and went back to making coffee.

She wiped the mud from her arms, then bent over to clean her feet. “No telling what path though or what name he’s using. I didn’t get a chance to look at the passport. As soon as I got out of the cave, I ran. I was pretty sure he’d kill me and stuff me back in that cave if I didn’t get away.”

He turned as her face crumpled and tears tracked down her muddy face. “I’m sorry, Kate. That must hurt since he’s family. Maybe he wouldn’t have hurt you.”

She shook her head and mopped at her face, then grimaced when she saw the mud on the paper towel. “You didn’t see his face. There was no love there, probably because I helped track him down when he took Claire.”

He tore off another piece of paper towel and wet it. “Let me.” He knelt in front of her and wiped the dirt from her face. This close to her, he could see a small dusting of freckles she must usually keep covered with makeup. She was even more beautiful up close. He finished the job and quickly stepped away.

“Thanks.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I must look awful.”

He wasn’t about to tell her what he really thought. Backing away, he turned to pop bread into the toaster. The coffee aroma began to fill the room. “Coffee’s almost done.”

“I need it. I’ll never sleep anyway.”

“It’s only two. You should try to get some rest. You can have my bed and I’ll take the sofa.”

She grinned. “Once Sheriff Colton gets here, he’ll have me traipsing all over the crime scene while he takes notes. There will be no sleep for hours.” She yawned. “But I’ll still watch the girls. They will help keep my mind off it.”

He shook his head. “I’ll take them to my aunt tomorrow. You’ll probably need to go to the sheriff’s office and fill out a statement.” He poured them both a cup of coffee and handed one to her. The toaster popped. “Butter, peanut butter, or jelly? Maybe all three?”

“Just butter.”

Conscious of her gaze on him, he slathered the toast with butter and put it on a plate. “Here you go.”

Her fingers closed around the plate. “Thanks.” She continued to look up at him. “You saved my life, Drake. If you hadn’t come out when you did, he would have caught me. He ran when he saw you were up. Why weren’t you in bed?”

He turned to grab his coffee, then joined her at the table. “Just mulling over my brother’s death and who is behind it. I have a lot of work ahead of me to figure this out.”

“I’ll help in any way I can.”

“You have enough to worry about with your own situation.” Maybe he should let her go. He could concentrate on Heath’s death without getting pulled into her problems.

But the thought of seeing disappointment in those beautiful eyes made him hold his tongue.

*

The intruder, likely female from the scream, was finally gone. He released the handle of his knife and flipped on his flashlight as soon as the sound of the paddle faded. Leaving his hidey-hole, he crawled around the corner. The cave was empty and he exhaled. Relief nearly left him light-headed. For a moment his chest tightened as he considered the idea that he’d been followed. But surely not. It had been dark, and no one knew about this place.

At least not many could know. He crawled to the exit, then stepped out onto the ledge and made his way out from under the waterfall. A flashlight beam bobbed on the shore, and he heard a man calling a woman’s name. His eyes widened.