He shivered against the cold wind as he waited for her to eat the food he’d left so he could replace the gag. For now, he’d simply do nothing. Time might not be on his side, but it was all he had.
Chapter Twenty-two
Monday morning brought howling offshore winds that chilled Paige to the bone as she planned her strategy. Chris had called earlier to say none of the objects she’d turned over to him showed any traces of blood. When she’d questioned him about what the police intended to do next, he’d hedged. Not a good sign.
A shiver slid through her as she hurried down the sidewalk toward Baird Copeland’s law office. After Quentin left for a meeting with his contractor, she’d bolted out of the shop, intent on her own agenda. Too bad she hadn’t taken the time to grab her warm coat. Her leather jacket might look great with jeans, but she was freezing her ass off.
Better than getting it chewed by Quentin. At the moment, he wasn’t her biggest fan. He’d been pissed when she refused to have a serious talk about their future over breakfast. She’d scampered downstairs where Mindy and a few random customers acted as a buffer between her and certain heartbreak.
Paige took an extra-long stride to avoid stepping on a crack and hugged her arms tighter across her chest. She’d known exactly what he was going to say. And she wasn’t at all certain she had the strength to resist him. Quentin intended to offer her everything she wanted, everything she needed. She could see the determination in his eyes, along with a hint of martyrdom. No way in hell was she going to rope him in against his will, even if he swore it was what he wanted. In the long run, they’d both be miserable.
Instead, she’d save him from himself. And possibly from the police, if she could pull this off. Arriving at her destination, she pushed open the door into blessed warmth. The young, dark-haired woman sitting at the front desk smiled at her as she shut the door against a rogue gust of wind.
“Wow, it’s really howling out there. May I help you?” She clicked the mouse and frowned at the computer screen. “I don’t believe Mr. Copeland has an appointment. There isn’t anything on his schedule.”
“That’s because I don’t have one.” She crossed her fingers behind her back. “Is he available?”
“No, he took an early lunch today, and his afternoon schedule is full.”
Paige nearly sighed in relief.
“Darn it. I just had a quick question for him.” She prayed her acting skills were up to the task. “We had a late meeting last week after hours, and I think I might have left my wallet. I can’t think of any other place I could have lost it.”
The young woman’s lips compressed, and she gave Paige a cool look. “Mr. Copeland didn’t mention finding a wallet.”
“Would you mind taking a look in his office? Maybe he put it in a drawer and forgot about it.”
“I suppose so.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “You can have a seat in the waiting area while I look.”
“Thank you.”
Paige waited until the receptionist disappeared down a hallway she assumed led to Baird’s lair before racing around the desk. The attorney’s schedule was still up on the computer screen. With a few clicks, she found the previous Thursday’s entries and scanned through his day. He’d had a conference call scheduled at one o’clock, and then a four o’clock appointment with a Mrs. Jones. There was no way in hell the man could have driven to Seattle and beaten Quentin to his townhouse unless he’d cancelled his last client.
When the sharp rap of heels sounded on the wood floor, Paige clicked back to the current date, then hustled around the desk and stopped to study a seascape on the side wall. She smiled when the office assistant appeared. “Do you know if this is by a local artist?”
“I’m really not sure. I didn’t find your wallet.”
“No? I was positive . . .” Her forehead crinkled. “I wasn’t carrying a purse that day. I’d shoved my wallet in my coat pocket. Out on the sidewalk, I bumped into a woman just leaving the office. Maybe my wallet fell out and she picked it up. Do you remember if Baird had a meeting late Thursday afternoon?”
“He did, but I’m certainly not allowed to give out private information about his clients. I’m sorry I can’t be of more assistance.”
“I already cancelled my credit cards, but I guess I’ll have to go to the DMV to replace my driver’s license. What a hassle.” Paige gave the woman a bright smile. “Thanks for trying.”
“I’ll let Mr. Copeland know you stopped by Miss—”
“Oh, no need to concern him. Thanks again for your help.” She bolted out the door as the wind practically wrenched it from her hand. She slammed it shut. “Well, that settles that. Mission accomplished.”
She paused on the sidewalk as two older men approached. When the one wearing overalls glanced her way, she smiled. “How are you, Zeb?”
“Paige, it’s good to see you. Actually, I intended to get in touch with you this week. I’ve decided I still want to sell a portion of my collection. Those grandsons of mine can kick up a fuss if they like, but I honestly don’t see why they should care. Anyway, I could use a little spare cash right now.”
“I’m definitely interested.”
“Do you know my old friend, Morris? We go way back to our Korean War days in the same unit.” Zeb raised his voice. “Morris, this young lady owns the antique store in town.”
“How do you do?” The old-timer who’d been sitting at the bar when she questioned Abe stuck out his hand.
Paige shook it. “Nice to meet you, Morris. Thank you for your service. You, too, Zeb. Any idea when you’d like me to come out to the farm?”
“How about after New Year’s? If you aren’t busy on the second, I’m free.”
“I can make that work. Maybe around two?”
“Good. Good. I’ll see you then.”
As the two men ambled away, she hurried down the street in the opposite direction. It was all she could do not to fist-pump the air. Zeb had given her a perfect opportunity to question him. Hopefully he’d know where Jonas and Justin were the night Blaze had gone missing. She’d already narrowed the field by one.
Minutes later, she entered the shop. The bells clanged as she pushed the door closed against the wind. “Those things are starting to annoy me.”
Mindy looked up from the shelf she was dusting. “They’re pretty loud, but isn’t that the point?”
“I guess so.” When the bells jangled again, she turned and smiled at Quentin. “How did your meeting go?”
He shut the door behind him. “Excellent. The final inspection is scheduled for next week. I should be able to plan the grand opening on Martin Luther King weekend.”
“That’s great. Will you have all your staff in place by then?”
“I will if I hustle.” His brows rose as he studied her. “Did you go somewhere? You look a little windblown.”
Paige stepped in front of the antique mirror hanging near the counter and let out a yelp. Hair straggled from what had once been a neat twist. “Crap. I’m going to run upstairs and fix this mess.”
When she reached her apartment, she paused to pet Leo before heading into the bathroom. She’d taken down her hair and was brushing it out when Quentin stopped in the doorway behind her and met her gaze in the mirror.
“You can’t avoid me, you know. I intend to have a serious conversation.”
“I eliminated one of our suspects this morning.”
He stiffened against the doorframe. “What the heck are you talking about?”
“Baird. I went down to his law office and did some fast talking. Who knew I have serious acting skills?” She fastened her hair in a topknot and stabbed a few pins into the slippery mass to hold it in place. “Anyway, I took a look at his calendar for last Thursday. He had a late appointment on his schedule, and I verified it with his receptionist. He couldn’t have been at your apartment that evening.”
“I can’t believe an employee would discuss her boss’s clients.”
“She
didn’t. It took some creativity on my part to get that information. Oh, I also ran into Zeb Stillwater on my way back to the shop. He wants to sell more of his stuff. We’re meeting the day after tomorrow, and I intend to find out where his grandsons were when Blaze and Clea disappeared.”
“Good God, Paige. Why don’t you take out an ad in the paper asking if any of these men is a murderer? You’re about as subtle as a freaking wrecking ball.”
“I didn’t give Baird’s receptionist my name. Even if he does figure out I stopped by his office, why would he care? The man isn’t guilty of anything but being a jerk. As for the Stillwater brothers, I doubt Zeb will tell them about our appointment since they were so against him selling anything. He won’t want to create a problem.”
“A waste of time since I doubt their grandfather is privy to their schedules.”
“If he doesn’t know, no harm no foul. I’ll find a different way to get the information.”
“Obviously, you’re on a mission.” When she edged past him, Quentin slid an arm around her waist. “So am I. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since Christmas.”
She reached up and stroked his cheek with her fingertips. “I know you have. I also know you want to make me happy.”
“Of course I do, but this isn’t just about you. It’s about me and what I want.” He tipped her head back to look into her eyes. “I don’t think I can live without you, Paige. Life would just flat out suck.”
“You won’t have to. I don’t intend to give up our friendship.”
“I want more than friendship. Since we—”
Her heart ached as his eyes clouded. “Started sleeping together?”
“I was going to say became a couple, but it’s more than that. We’re bonded in a way I’ve never experienced before. I don’t want to give that up. Hanging out alone in Seattle, I realized there’s nothing about my old life I’m not ready to change. It doesn’t begin to compare to what I could have with you by my side.”
“I feel the same way, but—” When her phone dinged, she let out a sigh and pulled it from the back pocket of her jeans. “Mindy needs my help downstairs.”
“We’ll go out tonight for New Year’s Eve and talk. Or maybe I’ll buy a bottle of champagne and cook. We can continue this discussion at my place.”
She nodded and stood on her toes to kiss him. “I almost believe you mean what you say.”
“That’s because I’ve never been more serious about anything. Nothing has ever mattered this much to me.”
“I love you, Quentin. We’ll work this out. For now, though, can you . . .” She waved a hand toward the dog as she stepped back.
“Sure. I’ll take him for a walk. Go help Mindy.”
She practically ran down the stairs, her feet barely touching the treads. Maybe she’d been too quick to judge his state of mind. Maybe—
Rocking to a halt, she nearly ran into a woman standing at the end of a row of shelves. “Sorry, I should slow . . . Oh, hi, Mrs. LaPine. Can I help you find something?
“Actually, I just wanted to ask you a question. Mason and I are looking for a few pieces of original artwork for our place here. An acquaintance mentioned a local woman, a friend of yours, does some nice work. I was hoping to get her contact information.”
“You must mean Nina Hutton. I have a few of her business cards up front. Her paintings are gorgeous. Actually, I have a couple of them in my apartment if you want to see an example of her work.”
The woman’s eyes brightened. “That’s very accommodating of you.”
“Not a problem. Right this way.” Paige stopped at the base of the stairs as Quentin and Leo descended. “Mrs. LaPine, this is a friend of mine, Quentin Radcliff. He bought the Poseidon Grill and will be reopening it in a couple of weeks.”
“Please call me Virginia. I’ll look forward to checking out what you’ve done with the place the next time we’re in town.” She frowned. “You look familiar. Maybe we’ve met before?”
“It’s a small town, so possibly we’ve crossed paths. Nice to meet you, Virginia. Come on, Leo.”
He gave Paige an enquiring look on his way past. She shrugged in response. With any luck, she’d be able to pump the senator’s wife for information on her husband’s whereabouts. Fate seemed to be smiling on her today.
“Right this way.” When Paige reached the top of the stairs, she led Mrs. LaPine into the living room and pointed to a painting of the three Sirens. Nina had painted the cove at sunset, and the combination of pinks and purples was spectacular. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. Your friend isn’t afraid to use vibrant colors.”
“No, Nina puts her personality into her work. You mentioned your next trip here. Are you and your husband leaving soon?”
“Yes, the state legislature will be back in session after New Year’s. He’s on a few important committees, and he’s anxious to get back to work.”
Paige injected a note of sympathy into her tone. “I imagine he’s always busy. Has he had to travel much since you got here? That must not be easy for you.”
“Just a one-day trip to Salem for a meeting the day after Christmas. This has actually been a pretty relaxing trip.” She glanced over. “You said you have two paintings?”
“The other one is in my bedroom.” Paige led the way. “The subject is a field of poppies Nina painted down on the California coast.”
“I’m impressed. Your friend is very good.”
“I’ll get you her business card. I have some in my desk.”
Paige led the woman back downstairs and then helped another customer while her mind clicked over the facts. If Virginia LaPine was telling the truth, her husband was in the clear. That left the two Stillwater brothers. Trying to imagine which one was capable of kidnapping two women and doing God knows what to them made her stomach ache. She needed to speak to Chris Long about what she’d learned.
During a lull in customers, she called his cell phone. When he didn’t pick up, she waited for the beep. “Chris, this is Paige. I did a little investigating—” The door opened, admitting a trio of middle-aged women, chatting and laughing together. “Uh, could you stop by later. Thanks.”
With a sigh, she stuffed her phone back into her pocket and went to help her customers. By the time she finally turned the closed sign around and urged Mindy to go enjoy her evening, she was mentally and physically exhausted. And she still hadn’t heard back from Chris.
“Maybe the man actually took a day off,” she muttered as she headed upstairs. “Or, he’s just sick to death of hearing from me.”
She dropped onto the couch, tipped her head back against the cushion, and closed her eyes. When her phone rang, she didn’t bother looking at the display before answering. “Hello.”
“Did you close up shop for the year?”
Just the sound of Quentin’s voice improved her mood. “Yes, thank God. We’re closed tomorrow for the holiday, and I’m ready to ring in the new year with you.”
“Good, because dinner is cooking, and I’m about ready to pop the cork on a superb bottle of champagne. By the way, your dog is stretched out on the kitchen floor, trying to trip me. We took a long walk in the woods earlier.”
“That sounds lovely. I wish I could have gone with you.”
“It did help me solidify my thoughts. I know exactly what I want.” His voice deepened. “When are you coming over?”
“As soon as I change my clothes. I hope casual is okay since I’m not up to looking fancy tonight.”
His soft laugh sent a tingling warmth through her. “I’m pretty sure Leo won’t mind if you don’t dress up. As for me, I don’t care if you dress at all.”
She smiled and opened her eyes. “That could be awkward on the drive over if I get stopped. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
After stripping off her jeans and tailored shirt, Paige pulled on yoga pants and a comfy sweatshirt. Then she exchanged her heeled boots for a pair of ballet slippers and literally let down her
hair. With a huge sigh of relief, she grabbed her keys and purse and headed downstairs. On her way through the storage room, she paused beside the workbench were the inventory sheets she’d printed out the previous day were still spread across the surface. Snatching them up, she shoved the papers into her bag before locking the rear door and battling the wind on her way to her van. Minutes later, she turned into Quentin’s neighborhood and navigated the streets to the dead-end cul-de-sac. The outdoor flood lights illuminated the walkway and cast shadows across the lawn. She slammed her car door and practically skipped up the path.
A delicious aroma greeted her as she entered the house. Leo’s nails scraped against the tile as he raced out of the kitchen and stopped to lean against her leg.
Paige rubbed his big head. “Hi, baby. How was your day?”
“Not bad. How was yours?”
She glanced up and smiled at Quentin. “I was talking to the dog, but good to know. Mine was busy. Whatever you’re cooking smells amazing.”
“I roasted a chicken and stuffed it full of herbs. Come have a glass of champagne and tell me about your busy day.” When she reached his side, he took her chin in his hand. Bending, he kissed her until she was breathless.
Paige wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. “You taste good.”
“Chocolate covered strawberries. I ate one.”
“That sounds better than . . . well, maybe not sex, but most anything else.”
He laughed and squeezed her waist. “You can have a few while I put the food on the table. Dinner’s almost ready.”
While they ate, she told him about her conversation with Virginia LaPine. “That’s two down and two to go. One of the Stillwaters must be guilty. I called Chris Long earlier, but he didn’t get back to me.”
“It’s not like the boy scout to slack off when you send out a distress signal. Maybe he’s out partying tonight.”
She choked on a mouthful of green beans. “I can’t picture Chris with a noise maker and party hat on New Year’s Eve, but I guess it could happen. Cut the guy some slack. He hasn’t arrested you.”
Hidden Secrets Page 23