Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(44)
Drake rose and turned to the coffeepot where he prepared decaf. “And that’s not any kind of reassurance, Kate. Your uncle has already proven he’s dangerous.”
Kate started to protest, then remembered how he’d terrified her. Every encounter seemed to indicate he held her in the same light as he did Claire—as an enemy. All her years of loving him had blinded her to his true nature, and she didn’t know what it would take for her to get the old Uncle Paul out of her head.
She tipped up her chin. “If he’d wanted to hurt me, he would have grabbed me in the basement. I think he was looking for something.”
Claire gave an impatient huff. “What?”
“Mom lived in that house for a long time, and he was there a lot. Sometimes he slept in that tiny bedroom in the back. Maybe he hid something inside it.”
The scent of coffee filled the kitchen, and Drake took down some mugs. “He probably knows from your last contact with him that you wouldn’t help him if he asked.”
She rose to help him and took the cream from the refrigerator. “No, I wouldn’t. I want him caught and back in jail.”
Luke stood and went to peer out the back door window. “I thought I heard something.”
Kate turned as a crash sounded outside. Over Luke’s shoulder she saw a shaggy black form rear up by the trash can. “It’s a bear!”
They all crowded to the door and looked out. A small black bear, probably the same one she’d seen earlier, smacked around the trash can by the small shed. Jackson went into a paroxysm of barking and lunged at the door. The bear lifted its head, then went back to hitting the trash can.
Drake’s hand went to the doorknob. “How’d it get the can out of the shed? I threw the crossbar on the door.”
“Bears are resourceful.” Luke stopped him when he started to unlock the door. “Not a good idea, buddy. It might look small, but it’s way stronger than we are. Leave it be, and we’ll clean up after it wanders off.”
Drake stepped back and frowned. “I don’t like having a bear around. It’s not safe for the girls to go out.”
“I’m always with them, just like I was the first time we saw it. They usually run off when they see you. And Jackson would chase them off with his barking.” Kate kept a strong, cheerful tone, but she didn’t like it either. She could count on both hands the times she’d seen bears back here in her entire life. And this one looked scrawny and sick, not a good combination when in the presence of humans. When bears got desperate, they tended to be unpredictable.
A little like people, including her uncle Paul.
She left the door and went to pour coffee. “It’s getting late, so you’d better drink your coffee and head for home.”
“Trying to get rid of us?” Claire had a teasing lilt to her voice, but there was a somber note under it. “We haven’t come to a decision about what to do.”
“I have, but you aren’t listening.” Kate laughed to take the sting out of her statement. “I’m going to be fine.”
Claire slipped her arm around Kate and hugged her. “Keep your phone by the bed, okay? And barricade your door with the dresser.”
“That’s a really good idea. I’ll sleep better too.” Kate hugged her sister back.
At least they were all letting it go. For a while she’d been sure they’d pressure her so much she’d have to give in.
*
Life settled into an even keel for a few days, though Kate’s house felt like a jail cell. Claire had the locks and the alarm password changed once again. Though Kate knew it was important to keep things locked up, it still took a conscious effort to remember to switch it on and off. The installer had set it up so Drake would be called if a window broke or someone breached the door when it was locked. Several times Jackson had awakened her with soft growls, but each time, his dismay had been over an outside animal.
She was ready to think about something else rather than her rampaging uncle. Now that the weekend was over, she would start making some calls to the hotels in Boston to see what she could find out about Melissa and Wang. Kate was a little sorry she’d volunteered because the calls felt intrusive to the dead woman’s privacy, but she settled on the sofa with Jackson beside her and began to make some calls. After five dead ends, she was ready to give up, but she had time for one more.
When the receptionist answered, Kate smiled so that good energy would go through the phone. “Good morning, this is Kate Mason, and I work for Mr. Chen Wang.”
“Of course, Ms. Mason. Mr. Wang is always an honored guest. How may I assist you?”
“I’m not sure if I should talk to you or someone else, but unfortunately we’re having to navigate an IRS audit.”
The woman made a sound of sympathy. “That’s the worst!”
“Tell me about it. Anyway, the IRS is questioning the charges sent through from your hotel on April 21st of this year. Do you happen to remember that visit? Mr. Wang was there for three days. He will be so grateful if you could corroborate this visit for me along with any details you might remember. He usually keeps a journal of all his business, but the one from that month is missing, and I need to re-create it.”
The woman said nothing for a moment, and Kate was afraid she had begun to be suspicious, but she must have been thinking because her voice was still light and helpful when she finally spoke. “I was on the check-in desk for eight hours every day then, and I spoke to Mr. Wang several times a day. What kind of corroboration would be useful?”