Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(73)

Dear friend,

Thank you so much for your sweet gift of chocolates. How did you know I love DeBrand truffles? And you picked my favorite kind! I’m in awe. I also loved the pictures. Could we meet? I would love to thank you in person. If your answer is yes, keep this letter. If you don’t want to meet me, leave the opened letter back where you found it. If I don’t see the envelope, I’ll meet you tonight at seven on the shore under Mermaid Point. I hope you say yes!

Much affection,

Your Kate



Your Kate. His pulse jumped at the warm greeting. He’d hoped his gifts would win her over, but that she would reciprocate his feelings was almost too much to take in. He folded up the note and the envelope and stuck them in his back pocket. Of course he was going to meet her, though the thought of revealing his identity to her terrified him. What if she didn’t like his type? Every woman had a “type,” and he hadn’t had much luck in the romance department. He’d tried to get up the courage to ask her out ever since she got well, but she’d been obsessed with her sister. He’d have to put a stop to that.

Surely she wouldn’t reject him when she’d gone to so much trouble to reach out to him. She was lonely too. Her mom and uncle were in jail, and all she had was her sister. She probably looked at Claire and wished she had a happy home too. He could give that to her. They didn’t need anyone but each other. He hadn’t wanted to kill the last one, but he’d been afraid she’d seen his face in the hotel room.

Maybe he would finally have a place to be on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Somewhere other than at his mom’s place filled with smoke and coarse jokes. Someplace he felt wanted and welcome. He could just picture Kate bustling around the kitchen preparing a turkey and pumpkin pie just for him. The happy thought was nearly overwhelming.

Then his smile faded. This was a little too pat, wasn’t it? Could it be a trap?

He sneaked another look around the end of the house. The coast was still clear, though he longed to just walk right up the road and knock on the door. He could hold up the envelope and tell her he got her note and didn’t want to wait until tonight. Then if it was a trap, he would have foiled it.

But no, he had a job to do today, and so did she. He could get the picture he took of her beside a puffin nest. Even if she was trying to trick him, he could win her over. He could frame it to match the black frames on her walls, and she’d squeal with delight. Maybe she’d throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. His face warmed at the thought until saner thoughts prevailed. He needed to be on his guard.

The sun was fully up by the time he skirted the edge of the woods and made it to his car. He stashed the note and envelope in his glove box, then turned on his car and pulled out onto the road.

Just in case this wasn’t all it seemed, he needed to be prepared.





THIRTY-FOUR


I don’t like this.” Ever since the envelope had been taken first thing this morning, Drake felt like he had to do something—anything—to prevent what was about to take place. But the time had come, in spite of everything he’d done to try to talk Kate out of the rendezvous.

He followed her out to her yellow Volkswagen. “At least let me come with you. Or even take Jackson with you. You could stop by Dixie’s and get him.”

She’d changed into slim-fitting jeans with a long-sleeved top. It was almost as if she was dressing for a date with the man, for Pete’s sake. He gritted his teeth and fought down the words that wanted to burst out.

She opened the car door. “He might be watching, Drake. You can go with Jonas and hide out to watch. He’s in charge of the operation anyway, and he’ll know where he wants you positioned. I don’t want Jackson to interrupt anything, nor do I want him to get hurt.”

The tight-lipped deputy had stopped by with instructions from the sheriff two hours ago. What if it all went wrong?

She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss across his mouth. “Did you check on the girls?”

“Yeah, they’re fine. Dixie has them with her at the hotel room. They’ll be safe there. The sheriff has a deputy in the lobby watching too.”

She slid into the seat with the door still open, and he leaned on it. “I’m going to be fine, Drake. Shut my door, and let’s get this over with. The sooner I get out there, the sooner he’ll be in custody.”

“I know.” He squatted beside the car. “Be careful, Kate. Trust your instincts. If something alarms you, run. Right then. Don’t wait for the sheriff or Jonas to rush in. Okay?”

Her blue eyes twinkled. “I love it when you’re so protective. Did you call the UPS office to see what happened to your package?”

He shook his head. “I’ll worry about it tomorrow when I know we have this guy.” With reluctance he stood and shut the door.

As her car pulled away, he pulled out his cell phone to contact Jonas, but before he could call the number, he saw the deputy’s truck pass Kate’s.

Jonas waved at Kate, then accelerated to the driveway. He ran his window down. “Let’s get going.”

Drake hopped in the passenger side and fastened his seat belt. “Everything in place?”

“Yep, we’re all ready.” His tone was grim.

“Are you worried at all?” Drake pulled out his phone and glanced at it in case Kate had texted him, but the screen was blank.