“Sam’s on Whitney today with our friend Vienna,” Raine said smoothly, covering for Stella, who couldn’t look at either man. “Vienna is head of Search and Rescue and Sam is part of that organization. I believe they were up there to try to improve the ability to rescue on the mountain. A call just went out for rescuers. Both are good climbers and hikers. They know what they’re doing. More and more hikers are trying to make that summit and they don’t know what they’re doing, so experienced climbers like Vienna and Sam have to help them.”
Raine was just talking, saying whatever came to mind in order to give Stella time to pull herself together. Her cell vibrated and she all but yanked it out of her back pocket to stare down at the one word that meant everything in that moment. Safe.
Her legs threatened to go out from under her. She looked up at his father, blinking back tears. “He’s safe. It wasn’t him.”
Raine stepped all the way out of the kitchen, her blue eyes sympathetic. “Two hikers went off. Vienna has called for the sheriff.”
Stella shook her head. “That can’t be. They were going to stop them at Trail Crest.”
“Stella . . .” Raine began gently.
“I know. I know. I’m grateful it wasn’t Sam or Vienna. I just need a minute. I feel like I can’t breathe.” She couldn’t stay there, cooped up in her living room, afraid she’d cry her eyes out or say something she shouldn’t in front of total strangers. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Adrenaline poured through her body, until she wanted to run to get rid of the energy making her shake. She turned toward the front door. “Bailey, with me.” She could only hope Raine would forgive her for leaving her with two strangers as she went out the door with her dog beside her. She got as far as the porch. It was very cold, and although she was in jeans and a sweater, she wasn’t dressed for outdoors.
Leaning against the railing, she covered her face with her hands. The serial killer had won after all. After all their careful planning, he’d still managed to murder two innocent people who only wanted to summit Mount Whitney and take in the sunrise. How could they have missed them? Vienna and Sam had been at Trail Crest. Right there. Waiting for the couple. What could have gone wrong?
Bailey shoved his large head against her hip and she automatically dropped one hand down to rub his ears.
“Stella?”
She nearly jumped out of her skin. She should have known the dog was warning her that she was no longer alone. She whirled around to face Sam’s father. He looked at her with concern.
“I’m not going to pretend to understand what’s going on, but it’s clear something terrible has happened. Is there anything I can do to help?” He handed her one of her jackets. She kept them on hooks beside the doors to her home so she could grab one at any time during the day or night in an emergency around the property.
“Thank you,” she murmured automatically. “No, there’s really nothing you can do. I’m sorry for acting so silly. Sam’s fine. Some of the hikers coming up from the city have been clueless about what it entails to summit Whitney. Vienna and Sam were trying to figure out how to protect . . .” She waved her hand, unable to lie. She didn’t know what to say. “He won’t be back now until late.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition,” Marco blurted out. He glanced toward the closed door as if he didn’t want to be overheard even by his bodyguard. “I’ve decided to retire, which in my line of business can be risky. I have no heir other than Sam.”
Stella turned completely around, her back to the lake and the rising sun with all its shades of gold. She hoped he didn’t think Sam was going to step into his shoes.
He shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking. Sam wants nothing to do with my business. He got out a long time ago. No, I’ll name someone else to follow in my footsteps. I want to retire close to my son though, and have the chance to repair our relationship.”
“Why didn’t you go to him before this?”
“I’d like to say it was because we’re both stubborn, but the truth is, even with all my resources, I couldn’t find him.” He sounded as proud of Sam as he was frustrated. “I didn’t know if my only child was alive.”
Stella could understand why he would approach Sam in the middle of the night when he found out where he was. Marco had probably really been afraid his son would take off at the first sign that he’d been found.
“I know I’m a stranger to you, Mr. Rossi, but I have to ask you, just how ill are you?” Because she might advocate for him if necessary. There were years of separation. If Marco was dying, Sam might never forgive himself if he didn’t at least sit down with his father and talk to him.
“I’m not dying yet. I had a heart attack and the doctors have told me that my eating habits and lack of fresh air and exercise have contributed to my very unhealthy heart. I made up my mind if I found my son I’d retire and try to talk him into at least living close to me. Knowing he has a lady makes it easier. It’s beautiful country up here, although I’ve never lived in the country, nor have I ever seen the appeal.”
She found herself smiling in spite of the circumstances. He was city through and through. She couldn’t imagine him ever considering settling in the Sierras. “It isn’t like there’s tons of company up here, Mr. Rossi. If you did decide to make this your home, or at least in the town, it isn’t like a city.” She tried to make it a warning.
Marco nodded. “I’m well aware.” He hesitated. “I met someone two years ago. We don’t live together, but I think if I did retire and moved away from the city, she might consider moving with me.”
Meaning out of harm’s way, Stella interpreted. Whoever the woman was, she wasn’t part of what he’d been doing all of his life. Stella honestly didn’t know that much about what he did, but she did know Sam. He wouldn’t be too happy with his father coming here and talking to her without him being present.
“You do know Sam will want to talk to you about all this himself.”
Marco sighed. “Yes, but he won’t be very receptive. I was hoping you would advocate for me if my son refuses to cooperate, Stella. I think he’ll listen to you.”
She could see his charm, his appeal to women, a powerful, handsome man, asking for help. He knew what he was doing, what he looked and sounded like. She had the feeling that he had practiced that charm many, many times over the years.
“When he comes to see me, insist on coming with him. He’ll be much more cautious how he treats me, what he says. We’ll have a better chance of making amends with each other with you present.” He sounded perfectly sincere and appealing.
Stella shook her head with a faint smile. “Here’s the thing, Mr. Rossi. I would never, under any circumstances, go behind Sam’s back. I wouldn’t mislead him or try to persuade him one way or the other. Sam is a grown man. He’s intelligent and I don’t believe he’s hotheaded or does anything without thinking it through. If he was stubborn when he was younger, he isn’t that way now. He’s thoughtful and calm. I believe he will listen to you and whatever is between you and will honestly try to resolve it. You won’t need me there for that. If Sam wants me there, of course, I’ll go with him.”
Marco Rossi was not a man people said no to very often. That was plain on his face, but he managed to cover up his annoyance with a small false smile. “I hope you’re not one of those women who believes your man tells you everything.”
“I’m not certain what that means. I don’t ask Sam to tell me everything. That’s not our relationship.” She indicated the door with a little shiver. “It’s very cold out here. Perhaps we should get back inside.” She didn’t wait for him to go in front of her. Instead, she led the way, opening the door and sending Bailey in first and then stepping back so Marco could enter.
Raine looked the same as she always did, sweet and innocent, as if she were that little pixie, sitting with her feet curled under her and the fall of re
d-gold hair haphazardly pulled back, making her look younger than ever. Stella was never certain if Raine purposely cultivated that look or if she was just naturally born that way, but it worked. The majority of people bought in to it. They never viewed Raine as a threat. Stella’s gaze jumped to Lucio. She wasn’t so certain he was buying in to it, but maybe it was simply the tension in the room.
“Are you okay?” Raine asked.
“Yes, have you heard any more news?”
“No, I didn’t expect to, honey. They’re going to try to recover the bodies. It will take some time.”
Stella sighed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Rossi. Sam will most likely be on Whitney for the rest of the day. I don’t know when you’re planning to return to New York, but he’ll be exhausted when he comes back. They’ll have to climb down the side of the mountain to recover the bodies.”
Even saying it made her feel sick. She still didn’t understand how it could have happened. How could the couple have been missed at Trail Crest?
“We can stay another couple of nights. I’ll leave the information for where we’re staying with you,” Marco said.
Raine’s cell went off and she answered, jumping off the couch and pacing away toward the kitchen. She could be heard even with her soft almost-whisper.
“I’m in the middle of something. I just left there. I worked all night, General. I haven’t had any sleep and what I’m doing is extremely important.” A small silence. “Give the job to Jack. He’s good. He can do it.”
Raine listened for a moment, leaning against the counter in the kitchen. Stella could see her through the open door. She looked exasperated. “This is not a secure line. You called me on my cell phone. Yeah, because I’m not home. No, I told you . . .” She sighed heavily. “It’s always a matter of national security. Fine. It would take me an hour to drive home. Send the helicopter for me in an hour so that gives me time here to finish up. Tell Dante he’ll have to take me home. I’ll throw some things together and he can take me from there to you. That’s the best you’re going to get. I’ve got a life, in case you were wondering, and it doesn’t always revolve around you.” She made a face. “Very funny.” She shoved the cell in her back pocket and joined them again.
“Sorry, Stella. I’ve got about an hour and then work calls again.”
“You haven’t slept for days,” Stella objected. “They need to give you a break.”
Raine shrugged. “Lots of hot spots right now.”
Marco frowned at her. “Someone sends a helicopter for you? You’re speaking that way to a general? As in the military? Secure lines? National security? What in the world do you do?”
Raine laughed softly and waved her hand in the air, looking innocent and young as only she could. “It does sound very dramatic, now that you put all that together. I’m a contract worker for the government, so yes, sometimes when they need me to work on something they need done fast, they send a helicopter because I live so far away from everything. The rest of it though, that’s just hogwash.”
She made a face. “I’m not certain how best to describe Peter. He likes to be called General. I wouldn’t be able to talk to a real general that way, right? Not without getting in trouble. Peter is very, very dramatic. He plays a lot of video games so he gives orders in terms of his ridiculous video games. The pay is great, and in the end we’re both happy.”
Stella didn’t think either man looked entirely convinced, but Raine gave a little eye roll as if Peter were the silliest man on the planet.
“What do contract workers do?” Marco persisted.
Raine shrugged. “I don’t know what others do, but in my case, I am very good at a certain computer code. When programs go down and they want them up and running fast, it’s always an emergency, although it really isn’t. I go in and troubleshoot. Most of the time I can do it remotely, but lately I’ve had to go to the main office and fix the program there.”
“Some sort of virus?” Marco asked, sounding knowledgeable. “You would think government computers would have the best protections against something intrusive like that.”
Stella held her breath, hoping Raine wouldn’t eat him up and spit him out. She didn’t. She smiled serenely, widening her eyes as if Marco were giving her the best piece of advice possible. “Why didn’t I think of that? I’ll have to talk to Peter about it.”
Marco was silent a moment and then he burst out laughing. “You are a true O’Mallory. Of course, you thought of it. So, not a virus.”
Raine smiled at him. “No, not a virus. Sometimes in a program, someone adds an enhancement and doesn’t think of all the combinations that might cause the program to crash. Sometimes a crash can happen due to a loss of connection while transmitting data and the data is unreadable.” She shrugged. “Not exactly the most exciting stuff in the world, but it’s a good job and good steady work.”
Marco nodded. “I don’t know much about how computer programs work, only that they do and we rely on them now.”
Raine had to agree. “Probably too much.” She sipped her coffee. “Lucio, you haven’t said what you’ve been up to lately. Judging by the suit, looks like your impressive skills have paid off.”
Marco lifted an eyebrow. “Which of your many impressive skills is she referring to, Lucio?”
“I have no idea.” Lucio sounded bored.
Stella studied his expressionless mask. His eyes weren’t lifeless. There was something hot and lethal smoldering beneath all that dark blue, a promise of retaliation that made Stella worry for Raine. Clearly, the two were enemies—bitter enemies. Marco seemed unaware of the fact, and Lucio didn’t seem inclined to enlighten him.
“When I was in New York, he was quite the ladies’ man, Marco,” Raine said. “He could lie with the best of them. Had women eating out of his hand. It was an easy way to climb the ladder, I think you said, Lucio. It’s been a long time, so I’m not quite certain, but I thought that was what your sentiment was. Women are so easy.”
Stella raised her eyebrow. “I suppose when we’re young we’re pretty gullible. We believe in all that fairy-tale crap.”
“Comes from being protected by our fathers, Marco,” Raine pointed out, ignoring the fact that Lucio hadn’t responded. “It’s better to know men lie than to learn the lesson the hard way, don’t you think?”
“Girl, you’re letting yourself be too cynical,” Marco objected.
“I don’t think so. I believe in being realistic, don’t you, Stella? I’d rather see the truth than be taken in by lies. Seriously, Marco, if you had a daughter, wouldn’t you want her to know the truth about what she was getting into when she was being married off to some man who would cheat on her? Or if she dated someone she believed loved her when he really was out to impress you? Would you want her to be so disillusioned that her world would come crashing down at some point? Better to go into it with eyes wide open, right?”
Marco frowned. “You young women are so independent. What do you think, Lucio? Do you believe women should be protected? Would you protect your daughter?”
Lucio’s white teeth flashed in a brief smile that failed to light those dark blue eyes. “I have no children, Marco, nor do I have a woman of my own. How could I possibly weigh in on this decision with any real wisdom?”
“I suppose that it is the wise man’s answer when he is with two beautiful women. We should go. Thank you for seeing us so early in the morning, Stella.” Marco stood and Lucio did as well. “It was wonderful to meet you both.”
“I enjoyed meeting you as well,” Stella said, walking the two men to the door. Relief poured through her as they moved off the porch and began walking toward their car. She hadn’t realized just how tense she had been with the two men in her home.
Once they were out of her sight, she closed her front door, leaned against it and faced Raine. “Thank you for staying. I would have had a very difficult time without you here
. I know it put you in an awkward position. Clearly, you and Lucio have some kind of history.”
“I knew him back in New York when I was a kid. I was Irish. He was Italian. We were both Catholic. Suffice it to say the two didn’t mix.” Raine gathered up the coffee mugs and took them into the kitchen. “He was very aware back then of how good-looking he is and he’s just as arrogant now. He actually had the nerve to try to tell me what I can and can’t do the minute the two of you went out the door. Like we were still kids and he thought I would fall in line and do whatever he said.”
“Were you ever a ‘thing’?” Stella asked, following Raine into the kitchen and leaning against the counter.
“One doesn’t have a ‘thing’ with Lucio. He isn’t that type of man. He makes that very clear to any woman he goes near.”
“You have a lot of animosity toward him, Raine, and that’s unusual for you. You can be full of contempt when men get arrogant and try to act like they know what they’re talking about when they don’t, but you’re never downright hostile toward them like you were with him. Not that I think Mr. Rossi was aware of it.”
“He was aware. Not much gets by him. Don’t let him fool you, Stella, he’s not a nice man. He may have come here to see his son, but he’s been head of a crime family for years. He’s committed all sorts of crimes, from things very small to murder. I don’t know if men like him do the actual killing, but they certainly order it. These days they try to fly under the radar of law enforcement, so they don’t do the kinds of things they did in the past, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t committing crimes.”
“I’m sorry about your father, Raine. I had no idea. And your family. You speak of them so lovingly. It must be so hard not to see them, especially your mother.”
“I’ve come to terms with it for the most part. There are moments it hurts like hell and I cry myself to sleep. It’s her choice. She made that choice never to see me, knowing I didn’t know the circumstances of my father’s business.” Raine stuck her chin in the air and shrugged. “As much as I’d like to undo the things that led up to my father’s death, I can’t undo them. They happened. I met someone, I fell for him and I told him I could see him this one evening because my father had gone out to check on things at the warehouse. I had no idea that was information he had been waiting to hear. I went to see my supposed fiancé and he was beating the shit out of my father at the warehouse and killing his men. They took his shipment. We left for California. Someone put out a hit on him anyway.”
Murder at Sunrise Lake Page 24