Rains of Remorse

by Christy Barritt

  Just then, Lisa came by with a pad of paper in hand, a smile on her face, and her blonde hair as bouncy as ever. “Rebecca, how’s that baby doing?”

  “Emma is doing great.” Rebecca felt herself glowing as she said the words. “She’s ready to make her grand entrance soon.”

  “I know. We are all excited to meet her.” Lisa turned to Levi and extended her hand. “Hi, I’m Lisa.”

  “I’m Levi.” Levi shook her hand in return before glancing around the restaurant. “Looks like a great place you have here.”

  “Thanks. I like it.”

  They ordered their food. Before they could begin a conversation again, someone else approached the table.

  Ron Davis.

  Jim’s former boss.

  The man was small and thin, with a receding hairline and oversized glasses. Rebecca had always liked him, though, despite a bad history between him and her husband.

  “Good to see you, Rebecca,” Ron started.

  She introduced him to Levi, and they chatted for a few minutes.

  “How’s business going?” Rebecca asked.

  Ron shrugged. “I wish I could say well, but we’ve been struggling.”

  She tilted her head. “Struggling?”

  “Tourism rates were down this year. You know what they say about businesses the size of mine. We’re going to have make-or-break years. This may be the one that breaks us.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  As he walked away, a moment of silence fell between her and Levi. Her thoughts turned.

  Was Ron’s business struggling because of the missing money?

  Before she caught herself, she frowned. Levi’s eyes narrowed as he observed her.

  Rebecca had to admit that there was something about Levi that made her feel like she had known him much longer than twenty-four hours. He was laid-back and easy to talk with. Plus, he was engaging and handsome to boot.

  Jim had been more of the quiet, brooding type. Not that she was complaining. Rebecca had fallen in love with the man, after all. But years of being married and witnessing his mood swings had worn her down. She constantly felt like she was walking on eggshells.

  He hadn’t been a fan of her sentimental ways. He hated her old family house and heirlooms and chastised her for wanting to keep them. It had been refreshing to hear Levi say that he appreciated those things yesterday.

  She tried to turn her mind away from the heavy thoughts.

  “So,” Rebecca took a sip of her hot water, “How long are you here for?”

  Levi settled back and shrugged. “I’ll probably be in town for the next month or so.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “That’s a long time to stay. But at least you’ll be here for the Christmas celebrations on Lantern Beach. We’ve got a tree lighting, carolers. It’s a lot of fun.”

  He smiled. “I look forward to it then.”

  “What was it that you said you did again?”

  “I’m an engineer.” He raised a shoulder. “Exciting, right?”

  “Sure,” Rebecca said, looking unconvinced.

  He laughed. “No, I don’t suppose it is that exciting. But it is nice to be able to work remotely when necessary.”

  “I would imagine. Though I do like working for myself, there are moments when I think it would be nice to work for a corporation. To have that steady paycheck instead of relying on sales all the time.”

  “But I can see that you are really good at what you do. It’s a blessing to be able to support yourself with your own business and set your own hours. Plus, it has to be nice not to have a boss breathing down your neck.”

  “I suppose that what you’re saying is true. I’m blessed, and I don’t need to forget that.”

  She glanced outside and remembered the car that had chased them. She had tried to play it off like it hadn’t affected her. She didn’t want to see Levi become concerned, and she liked to think she could take care of herself, even though she knew she couldn’t.

  But that, when combined with the threatening text and the break-in yesterday, had her feeling entirely more nervous than she would like.

  She didn’t see anyone suspicious outside. She hoped it stayed that way. Maybe this was all just a fluke, and it would pass.

  But her gut told her there was more to the story. Was it because of Jim? Had he done something before he died?

  That was a question Rebecca wished she didn’t have to ask herself. But she’d be a fool not to.

  Levi watched Rebecca. She was still on edge, wasn’t she? Anybody in their right mind would be shaken after what happened earlier. She seemed to be handling it surprisingly well. He could admire her for that.

  They made general chitchat about the island until their food came. He then asked Rebecca if it was okay if he prayed over the meal. She said yes, and Levi offered thanks for the food. As he took a bite of his sandwich, the unusual combination of flavors washed over his taste buds.

  He saw Rebecca watching his reaction and nodded. “This is good.”

  She smiled, as if pleased. “I’m glad you like it.”

  He picked up one of his chips and looked at her. She really was lovely, with her soft features and glowing skin. Even though she was pregnant, she was trim and her hair had a healthy sheen.

  Not that her looks changed anything. He was still here to investigate her.

  Levi shifted. “Look, I know this probably isn’t my place, and you can tell me to shut up or leave you alone or whatever you need to say, and I wouldn’t blame you. But, if you don’t mind me asking, is your baby’s father still in the picture?”

  A gray cloud seemed to form over Rebecca’s head, and she frowned. She placed her sandwich back onto her plate and licked her lips. “Actually, he died about six months ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  She hesitated again. “Thank you. But, before he died, we separated. Or, should I say, he left me. He was in a bad place in his life, and it spilled over into every area of our relationship. It’s been a tough couple of years.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot.”

  She picked up a chip and broke it in half but made no effort to eat it. “My husband used to work for one of the rental agencies in this area. He was accused of embezzling some money from it. He claimed he was innocent, and I believed him. His boss—Ron, whom you just met—didn’t press charges but fired him instead. Despite that, Jim’s reputation here on the island was ruined.”

  “That couldn’t have been easy.”

  She continued to play with her chip. “No, it wasn’t. He had trouble finding a new job. I became the breadwinner for the both of us. I tried to find things for Jim to do to pull him out of his melancholy state. Nothing I did seemed to work.”

  “Even knowing you were pregnant, he didn’t try to turn things around?”

  Levi knew he was probably treading in unwelcome territory. But he wanted to know, both professionally and personally.

  “We had wanted a baby for years, but we were unable to have one,” Rebecca said. “I thought it was going to be our lot in life to be childless. When I found out I was pregnant, I wondered if our marriage could be saved. Instead, he left me.” Her voice cracked.

  “And he didn’t come back?” What an idiot. If Levi had a child, he would do anything to let the child know he or she was loved.

  “He said something about making things right. But he died a couple weeks later. I guess he never had the chance to do that.”

  Levi had the urge to reach across the table, grab Rebecca’s hand, and squeeze it. But it was too soon, too early. They didn’t have that kind of relationship. Still, his heart went out to her after hearing what she’d been through.

  “He was a fool to ever leave you,” Levi said.

  Rebecca’s cheeks turned a subtle shade of pink. “Thank you. It hasn’t been easy. Then again, we were never promised that life would be easy, were we?”

  “No, we were not.” N
o truer words had ever been spoken.

  As they continued to eat, that sentiment remained on Levi’s mind. No, life wasn’t ever that easy. Levi knew that firsthand also. Unfortunately, life for Rebecca might get a lot harder before the storm subsided . . . if it subsided.

  That all depended on her innocence.

  Chapter Seven

  Rebecca excused herself from the table to take a phone call from Cassidy.

  She was happy for an excuse to get away from Levi for a minute—not because she wasn’t enjoying his company. It was the opposite, actually. She was finding it entirely too easy to open up to the man.

  Ordinarily, Rebecca wouldn’t share so many personal details with a potential client. But Levi had asked about her husband, and maybe she just needed a listening ear. She’d certainly shared more than she’d planned.

  It was nice to talk to someone who wasn’t from the island. While everybody here had been kind and supportive, talking about Jim around people who’d known him for years seemed disrespectful.

  Rebecca paused in the nook near the bathrooms. “Any leads?”

  “No, not yet. We’re trying to track down any dark sedans here on the island.”

  “Have you found any?”

  Cassidy paused. “Let me ask you this. Have you had any beefs with Jared Nicholson?”

  She sucked in a breath. “Jared? I mean, he’s my competition but . . . I don’t know I’d say we had problems. Does he have a dark sedan?”

  “He does. I’m not saying he’s behind this. Bradshaw went to talk to him. I’ll let you know how that pans out.”

  “Thanks.”

  As she ended the call, Rebecca leaned against the wall for a minute. Jared couldn’t be behind this . . . could he? She shivered at the thought.

  Was all this about eliminating the competition? She hated to think that someone might take it that far. Then again, the few encounters she’d had with Jared had proven he was highly competitive. In fact, the first time they’d met he’d told her, “Prepare to be annihilated.” He’d laughed afterward. Said he was joking.

  But Rebecca still remembered the encounter, and a sour feeling turned in her stomach.

  Plastering on a smile, Rebecca made her way back to the table where Levi was waiting for her. She reminded herself that she should remain more guarded. Levi would be leaving the island soon, so there was no need to form a connection with him.

  She slipped into the booth, her belly barely fitting.

  “Everything okay?” Levi’s intelligent eyes stared back at her.

  “Chief Chambers was just giving me an update on the sedan.” She shared what the chief had told her.

  Levi’s expression remained unreadable. “Hopefully, she’ll find some answers soon. But that seems like a pretty extreme reason to try to run you off the road.”

  “Real estate can be cutthroat, but you’re right. I just can’t see it.” Unless there was more to the story than she realized . . .

  Levi shifted, but his gaze still looked uneasy. “You have any more showings coming up?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have a new client who would like to see some new houses tomorrow. We met last week.”

  Levi raised his eyebrows. “That has to make you happy.”

  “Yes, especially at this time of the year. It’s unusual to have very many clients at all during these cold months.”

  “I guess if I’m going to make an offer on a house, I should really do it before you show it to someone else, huh?”

  She grinned. “Competition always gets people moving faster.”

  She glanced at her phone as a text came in, and she frowned. Patrick was reminding her to get him the information for the life insurance.

  “Good news followed by bad news?” Levi raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

  “No, not bad news. I’m still trying to get my late husband’s affairs in order. I found out he took out a big life insurance policy not long before he died. I had no idea he’d done so, but that must be what he meant when he said he would take care of us. However, I’m still trying to jump through legal loopholes so I can get the money.”

  Levi shifted. “It can be quite the process sometimes.”

  “Yes, it can be.”

  Rebecca noticed the subtle change in Levi’s gaze. “What are you thinking?”

  “You really want to know?” He raised his eyebrows, hesitation still written on his features.

  “I do.”

  “You’re getting a large payout. Do you think that has anything to do with the break-in or the car following you?”

  She sucked in a quick breath. It was an excellent question. “I . . . I don’t know. I didn’t think about that, I guess.”

  Levi waved his hand in the air. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to get you concerned. I’m just a solutions kind of guy. It’s what I do.”

  The conversation suddenly made her feel uncomfortable, and doubt rooted itself in her mind. All of this had started before she went in to sign that paperwork . . .

  “Listen, I should probably get back home.” She grabbed her purse. “I do have some paperwork to do.”

  Levi nodded and stood. “I understand. I should get to work also.”

  But as Rebecca reached for her debit card, she remembered that it had been canceled.

  Levi read Rebecca’s face and knew he was pushing too hard. He needed to back off. However, hearing that information about the life insurance policy caused all kinds of red flags to go up in his mind.

  From all appearances, Rebecca had no idea what her husband had been involved with. But Levi knew that the criminal enterprises Jim had gotten mixed up in had resulted in some large cash payouts. Now he feared the wrong people might want to get their hands on that money. Innocent or guilty, Rebecca was in danger either way.

  Did this life insurance policy have something to do with everything that was going on? The timing was suspicious, so it wouldn’t surprise him.

  The more Levi learned, the more uncomfortable he was.

  As they headed down the road back to their houses, Levi’s mind raced.

  Keep a placid expression, he reminded himself. He didn’t want to alarm Rebecca. It wouldn’t be good for her in her current state.

  He glanced behind him in the rearview mirror but saw no one. At least that was good news.

  “I think I’m going to have to go back and eat at that restaurant again before I leave,” Levi said, changing the subject into a more neutral area.

  “I’m glad you liked it. I’m going to grab some cash at home and pay you back.”

  Her bank account had been compromised. Coincidence? Levi didn’t think so. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not.”

  “But you’re my client.”

  “My mom always taught me I should never let a woman pay.” Levi cast her a look, his eyes glimmering. “I know it sounds outdated now, but I still can’t get those lessons or her voice out of my head.”

  Rebecca smiled, as if his answer had pleased her.

  “That’s a bummer about your bank account, though.” Levi adjusted the heat until warm air blew through the vents. “Did that just happen?”

  She nodded. “I just found out that my account had been compromised this morning.”

  “When it rains, it pours, huh?”

  “You can say that again.”

  They pulled to a stop in her driveway, Levi threw the car into Park, and they stepped out. He would walk her to the door.

  “You don’t have to do this.” Rebecca glanced at him, a frown forming on her lips. “I’m perfectly capable of getting to the door by myself.”

  “Yes, but this is something else my mama taught me.”

  She smiled again. He told the truth. His mother had raised him to be a gentleman.

  As he took a step toward the front door, he paused, pulling Rebecca to a stop also. Her eyes jerked toward him in confusion.

  “What—” she started.

  “Rebecca, your front door is open. You didn’t leave it
that way, did you?”

  The color left her face as she swung her gaze toward the front of the house. “No, I did not.”

  “I need you to go wait in my car. With the doors locked. Okay?” He only threw in the “okay” to soften his words. “And call 911.”

  Rebecca took a couple steps backward before reaching his car and climbing inside. Levi waited until he heard the door lock click before he proceeded. He needed to find out why that front door was open.

  He had a bad feeling about this.

  Chapter Eight

  Levi waited until he was inside the house and out of sight from Rebecca before pulling his gun. The Glock had been tucked away in an ankle holster all day. He hadn’t wanted Rebecca to see it and begin asking questions. But he was glad that he had it now.

  Cautiously, he moved against the interior wall and scanned the inside of Rebecca’s house. The place had been ransacked—books strewn, wall hangings crooked, couch cushions scattered.

  What in the world was someone looking for here? Levi didn’t know, but he had a feeling it had something to do with Rebecca’s former husband.

  He paused near the stairway and listened.

  Nothing.

  If the intruder was still inside the house, he was being quiet. Hiding. Tucked out of sight.

  None of those thoughts were comforting. Levi continued to move along the perimeter of the space, looking under everything and in every closet. The first floor was clear.

  He moved up the stairs. The first bedroom was empty as well as the second.

  He paused as he opened the last door. A lovely nursery stared back at him. The space had been decorated with an obvious amount of love and care. The walls were pink, a crib in the corner had a lovely angel-themed mobile over it. Light and airy curtains finished off the space, along with a rocking chair and matching rug.

  The room was fit for a princess.

  He frowned. Rebecca’s little girl deserved every chance in life. All this stress at the end of Rebecca’s pregnancy wasn’t healthy, and seeing this nursery right now served as a grim reminder. But how could Levi keep them safe and investigate?