Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(37)

Kate. Had his Kate been in here? Surely he would have sensed her presence.

He squinted in the moonlight and let his gaze sweep the shore as he clung to the rocks. A movement under a fir tree caught his attention, and he saw Kate’s pale face.

She had been the one in the cave. Did she follow him? Maybe she wanted to be with him. But no. That man was chasing her. The tone of his angry voice made it clear he’d forced her. He clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. Paul Mason was supposed to be in prison. He had no business out here terrorizing Kate.

He moved faster than ever before on the slippery ledge until he was standing on the wet grass beside the lake. Paul had to be stopped. He had time to take care of business though. No one suspected him, and he was too smart for them anyway. They’d never know what he’d done. He hurried through the barrens toward where he’d parked his truck.

Once he was safely in his vehicle, he pulled onto the road with the lights off. Newham’s lights were on as the truck rolled past. Newham leaned over Kate, who sat at the kitchen table. Heat shot up his face, and he clenched the steering wheel. That man needed to be gone. This wasn’t his place, and Kate wasn’t his girl.

Something had to be done about Newham.

He drove to his house and parked in the drive. As he got out he stuck his hand in his Windbreaker for the pouch. His eyes widened when he felt only lint. Maybe it had fallen out in the truck. The dome light illuminated the truck’s interior, but no matter how hard he looked, he found only an empty gum wrapper and a partially eaten bag of peanut M&M’s. His gut clenched as he mentally retraced his steps.

It had to have fallen out on the way to his truck. He’d go back at first light and see if he could find it. It wouldn’t do for anyone else to see his treasures.





EIGHTEEN


Birds chirping in the trees beside the house added to Claire’s sense of contentment. She put the key in the lock and smiled up at Luke. “Home sweet home, husband of mine.” She pushed open the door and started to enter, but Luke scooped her up in his arms before she could react.

“Not so fast. My beautiful bride needs to be carried over the threshold.” He smiled down at her.

She clasped her hands around his neck. “You already did this at the condo in Hawaii.” Seven luxurious days enjoying the sun and life with Luke. It couldn’t have been a more perfect honeymoon.

“The condo is not home.” He pushed the door open a little farther with his foot, then carried her into the foyer.

His lips came down on hers in a sweet promise of forever. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she clung to him and kissed him back. How was it possible life was this wonderful after such a hard year?

She opened her eyes when he pulled away. “Put me down and I’ll fix coffee. I missed our Captain Davy’s Coffee Roaster coffee.”

“Me too.” He gently set her on her feet and steadied her. “How about steaks for dinner? I’ll get some out and grill them.”

“I like this married thing better and better.” She cupped his cheek, then headed for the kitchen where she ground fresh beans and put the coffee on to brew in their brand-new Cuisinart, a gift from Kate.

“I’m dying to see Kate,” she called to Luke, who was rummaging through the freezer in the utility room. Her smile died as he came through the door frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone stole everything in the freezer.”

“You’re kidding! We had half a cow in there.” She followed him back to the utility room and peered into the big chest freezer. Nothing was inside but two freezer packs. Every package of beef, pork, and chicken was gone. She whirled around. “Let’s check the house.”

The back door was unlocked. She and Luke traipsed through the entire house peering in closets and checking possessions. When they came to the spare room where they’d left quite a few unopened packages, she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. When Luke pushed open the door, her fears were confirmed. Wrapping paper lay strewn around like a frenzied whirlwind had blown through the window.

She felt a breeze, too, and pointed out the open window to Luke. “He got in that way.”

“And went out the back door with our things.” Luke pressed his lips in a grim line. “I’ll call Danny.” He exited the room to get his cell phone.

Claire’s eyes burned as she stared at the devastation. There was no way to even tell insurance what had been lost until she contacted all the wedding guests and found what they’d given. She stooped over and searched for discarded cards. A particularly large pile of paper lay crumpled on the guest bed. As she moved it out of the way, her hand touched something hard, and she instinctively snatched it back. Thrusting the paper out of the way, she uncovered the box that had once held the new Cuisinart coffeemaker down in the kitchen. When she lifted the box, it rattled. She frowned and opened the top to peer inside.

A crossbow bolt lay inside with a note. She started to reach for it, then snatched her hand back. “Luke!”

He was still on the phone with the sheriff, and his voice got louder as he ascended the stairs. He ended the call as he reached the doorway to the bedroom. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

Her throat was too tight to speak, so she pointed to the box. He frowned and came closer to the bed. “What is it?”