The House at Saltwater Point

by Colleen Coble

  He sent her an answering grin. “Sorry, lost in thought. I camped out in the garage of the Saltwater Point house to make sure Ellie was all right last night. I don’t like her staying alone.”

  “I don’t either. We’ve got a spare room, but it’s not furnished yet. Let me get some furniture for it tomorrow, and she can stay with us. Alex will be staying with his grandmother this week.”

  “Can I sleep on your sofa?”

  She grinned. “What, you don’t trust Zach and me to protect her?”

  “It’s this control thing I have.”

  “Zach is the same way. I was only teasing.”

  “And she hates having to ask for help.”

  Zach entered the kitchen and dropped a kiss on her head. “Sounds like someone I know.”

  She made a face at him, then lifted the spoon for him to taste the sauce. He gave it a thumbs-up, then went to make a fresh pot of coffee.

  A slight smile played at Shauna’s lips. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

  He rolled his eyes at her. “I admit I like her. She’s spirited and fun, and she’s pretty darn cute too.”

  “She is.” Shauna wound her long black hair on top of her head and stuck a pencil in it. “Thanks for being so patient in church today when I introduced you as my long-lost brother.”

  After church all Shauna’s friends had crowded around to shake his hand and introduce themselves. He couldn’t remember a single name after they walked out, but he’d started to get to know them. “I enjoyed it. It’s fun to get to know this place. I like it.”

  “I thought we might go out to the old cabin after we eat. If you want to, of course. You said you’d like to see where we used to live.”

  “That would be great.”

  Ellie entered the kitchen with Alex in tow. “What would be great?”

  She’d changed from her pretty peach dress to jeans and a lacy green top. She was entirely too beautiful.

  He got up from the stool at the kitchen bar to pour a cup of coffee. “We thought we’d go out to the place where Shauna and I lived as kids. I was hoping I might remember something.”

  She glanced at Shauna. “You want me to stay behind with Alex?”

  He didn’t want anything of the kind. “No, I’d like you to go.” When she brightened, he looked away. He needed to rein in his growing feelings for her and remember the job he came here to do.

  Zach ruff led Alex’s hair. “I can stay here with Alex. We’ve got a Pac-Man game calling our names, don’t we, buddy?”

  “Yay! I was hoping you’d say that, Dad.” Alex grinned as he emphasized the word Dad. “It’s sad to go to Grandpa’s house. I miss him.”

  Shauna and Zach must have given him the go-ahead to call Zach Dad. A good decision in Grayson’s opinion.

  Shauna finished the last touches on the pasta and carried it to the table, a wooden farm-style type that had a few scratches and crayon marks. “Let’s eat. Alex, you can say grace.”

  They chatted about different people Grayson had met that morning as they ate, and he caught himself stealing glances at Ellie, who sat beside him. The night had gone quietly, and he’d driven home to grab breakfast and change for church before she came out to shoo him away again.

  “I saw you talking to the sheriff and Felicia this morning,” he said between mouthfuls. “Anything new to report?”

  Ellie shook her head. “I asked him about Hodges’ murder, but he was pretty tight-lipped.”

  “The FBI probably got to him.”

  Shauna rose and began to clear the table. “If we’re all done, we can head out to the cabin.”

  “Alex and I will take care of the dishes.” Zach took the plates out of her hands. “After our Pac-Man marathon, he and I will whip up sandwiches for supper.”

  Shauna kissed him. “You’re wonderful. We’ll be back in a few hours.” She glanced at Grayson. “You want to drive?”

  “Sure. My Tahoe will eat up the miles with no trouble.” Did it make Ellie uncomfortable to realize he wanted her with him?

  She didn’t seem to think anything about it as Shauna climbed into the back seat and told her to take the front one. She fastened her seat belt and stared out the window.

  The drive out to the cabin was quiet. Shauna tried to keep up a conversation, but she soon went silent when he only answered in short replies. His stomach tensed more and more as he drove along the rutted track that meandered through hills and valleys and over rocky soil.

  He sucked in his breath when he first spied the cabin with its mossy roof. A tree swing still clung to its fraying rope, and he spied the remains of a tree house in the branches of the same large oak. He braked without thinking, then sat back and stared.

  Shauna leaned forward. “You remember something?”

  What did he remember? The soft sound of a woman’s voice maybe. “A little. You used to swing me, didn’t you?”

  “It was your favorite. You want to get out and walk around?”

  After coming all this way he could hardly say no, but he wanted to turn around and go the other direction. He turned off the engine and pocketed his key, then got out. His gut clenched as he approached the cabin, but the inside was nearly empty now, both of belongings and memories.

  He needed to call his parents, but every time he started to place the call, he couldn’t do it. The betrayal was too great. He wasn’t sure what to say.

  Chapter 25

  Most construction workers aren’t big, but they’re strong. We women get around that by using the proper tools.

  —HAMMER GIRL BLOG

  Monday morning Ellie had spied Gray’s black SUV pulling away while she was making coffee. It was still dark outside. She’d planned to invite him in for breakfast, but he’d been too fast. She couldn’t believe he had been there the last three nights. She couldn’t continue to let him do that. A man that big couldn’t be comfortable sleeping on the concrete floor of her garage.

  They’d both stay at Shauna’s tonight, though.

  “Hey, Ells.” Jason called to her from the front door, then clomped through the drywall dust and scattered nails to join her in the kitchen where she had perched the coffeepot on a piece of plywood. “What the heck is going on? You’re not even dressed.”

  She looked down at her gauzy nightgown. “I slept in the garage suite.” She told him about the man slicing her screen and trying to get in. And Ralph Hodges’ murder. “With what happened to Mac, Gray didn’t want me to stay there.”

  “I could stay with you. Why didn’t you ask? You never want anyone to help you, and it ticks me off.” He put his hands on his hips and glared at her. “I’m your friend. You can turn to me when you need help.”

  Shocked, all she could do was stand there with her mouth dangling open and stare into his angry face. He rarely got mad at her, but he was furious today. “I’m sorry. I should have talked to you about it.”

  His scowl lessened slightly, and he ran his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe you’d really be in danger, though. Whatever happened to Mac, she brought it on herself.”

  It was an old argument, and one she wasn’t going to win no matter how much she tried to change his mind. When he got like this, it was better to change the subject. “I’m going to tell the sheriff about the hidden room in this house and maybe have his techs search it.”

  “What hidden room?”

  “In the basement. Let me show you.”

  She led the way to the dingy basement and showed him how a door was concealed in the paneling of the far wall. When she opened it, a sickly sweet odor wafted toward her. A dead rat maybe? She flipped on the light and blinked at the sight of a bloated body lying on the floor. Part of her tried to scream, but her throat locked up and not a sound made it past. Jason made a choking sound behind her. He grabbed her arm and rushed her up the stairs.

  He clawed his phone out of his pocket. “I have to call the sheriff!”

  She could tell from his side of the conversation that the dispa
tcher wanted him to stay on the line until the deputies arrived, but he refused and ended the call.

  “They’re on their way.” His voice was subdued. “D-Did you recognize the body in that room?”

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t bear to look at him. He had black hair. That’s all I saw.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t know him either.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I doubted you, Ells. I should have known you well enough to realize you’d never overreact. I’d tell you to stay at my place, but you’d have to sleep on the couch, or I could take the couch and you could have my bed.”

  “Shauna has offered up her spare room, so I’m going there tonight. You’re sweet to offer, though.”

  The sound of sirens grew louder. She opened the door and started to step out, but he caught her arm and stared at the porch. “Wait a minute, what’s that?”

  He darted past her and scooped up an old Pepsi bottle with a piece of paper sticking out of it. Turning with it in his hand, he yanked the paper from the top.

  “Be careful. It could be booby-trapped.”

  “It’s just a note.” His expression was grim when he looked up. “Addressed to you.”

  A shiver made its way down her back. “You read it. I don’t want to touch it.”

  “‘Ellie, it’s about time we meet. Get ready to die.’

  “She gulped. “Well, that’s pretty scary.”

  “He sounds crazy. The sheriff will want to see this.” He nodded down the street where a deputy’s car rushed toward them. “I shouldn’t have touched it, but I wasn’t thinking.”

  From here she could see the block letters spelling out the letter, and she took a step back. Get ready to die. Like Mac and that poor man in the basement? Ralph Hodges too. She shuddered.

  Grayson had spent the morning talking to possible witnesses to the cocaine theft. He’d gotten nowhere, but he was beginning to feel more and more at home in this place, and he appreciated the natural beauty of the mountains looming over the blue sea. For the first time he began to think about making this place his home base.

  His phone sounded with a call from his mother as he parked in front of the sheriff’s office. He clenched his fists and stared at her picture on his phone. Part of him wanted to let it go to voice mail, but that was the cowardly way out.

  He took a calming breath and answered it. “Hey, Mom, I was just about to call you.”

  “You were never going to call.” Her voice vibrated with anger. “You’re being childish, Grayson. Your sister would never treat us this way. Anger is a useless emotion.”

  Mom always threw Izzy in his face, but he’d never blamed his sweet sister. This was all on their mother. “How did you think I’d feel when I found out you’ve lied to me all these years? This is why you’ve always held me at arm’s length, isn’t it? I’ve never been as good as Izzy in your eyes.”

  “That’s not true, Grayson. I love you both equally.”

  The lack of conviction in her voice told him everything he needed to know. “Is Dad there?”

  “No, he’s deep-sea fishing.”

  He exhaled and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I don’t really know what to say to you, Mom. You haven’t even said you’re sorry.” There was only silence on the other end of the line. “You’re not sorry, are you? You’d do it all again.”

  “I-I didn’t know if I could bond to you if you were always asking questions about your birth parents.”

  “And the sad truth is that you never bonded anyway. Don’t try to convince me otherwise. I lived it.”

  “Don’t shut us out, Gray.” Her voice wobbled. “Isabelle is thinking about visiting us in a few weeks. You could come too, and we could talk all this out. We’re still a family.”

  That much was true, but he wasn’t ready to see her face-to-face. “I’ll think about it. Listen, I have to go. Tell Dad I’ll give him a call soon.” At least Dad had wanted to tell him.

  He got out of his SUV and headed into the sheriff’s office, which was buzzing with activity instead of giving off its usual sleepy vibe. Rosa caught his wave, and she came to greet him at the counter.

  “Busy day.”

  Her dark eyes were somber. “You haven’t heard?”

  “Heard what?”

  “Ellie and Jason found a dead body in the hidden room in the basement. Around eight.”

  Right after he’d left. “Is she here?”

  “She’s back with the sheriff. She told me to ask you to join them if you came in.”

  He checked his messages and saw she’d texted him to come to the sheriff’s office. Rosa escorted him to Sheriff Burchell’s office, and he rapped his knuckles on the door. The sheriff opened the door and motioned him inside. Jason and Ellie were with him.

  Ellie was seated in a chair and turned to face him when he entered. Her face was white and set. “You heard?”

  “Rosa told me.” He crossed the room and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  She covered his hand with hers. “The body and the note made it more real.”

  “What note?”

  The sheriff went around his desk and picked up a paper. “This is a copy.”

  Grayson took it and scanned it. A shudder rippled down his spine at the malice in it. “This sounds personal. I don’t get it.”

  Jason rose from the chair next to Ellie’s and went to stare out the window. “I think someone is trying to scare her.”

  “He’s doing more than scaring people. He’s killing them.”

  Ellie’s hand dropped away, and she shivered. “Clearly these are terrorists we’re dealing with. But why target me? If Mac was involved, it had nothing to do with me.”

  He couldn’t imagine her hurting anyone. Sweet, gentle Ellie was quick with an encouraging smile and word. He glanced at the sheriff. “Do you have an ID on the vic in the basement?”

  “Not yet. Guy’s Asian.”

  Grayson kept a protective hand on Ellie’s shoulder and glared at the sheriff. “What are you going to do to protect her? She can’t move into Shauna’s now—not with Alex there. We can’t risk his life.”

  “Or Shauna’s and Zach’s,” Ellie said.

  Where could he take her? These guys were pros. They’d killed that guy in a neighborhood surrounded by houses.

  “We need a safe house.”

  Jason whirled from the window. “I know! Mac’s ship. It will be hard for someone to get to it undetected if we’re guarding it. They’ll have to approach it in a boat. We can get a few of the townspeople to volunteer to help watch. I’ll stay, of course.”

  Ellie shook her head. “I don’t want anyone else in danger.”

  The sherif flooked up. “That’s a good idea. Crime scene techs are done with it. I can probably swing some around-the-clock surveillance for a few days too.” His lips twisted. “We’re short staffed and under the gun with our budget.”

  Ellie rubbed her head. “I still can’t believe this.”

  He’d scared her, and Grayson hadn’t intended to upset her. “I’m staying on the boat with you too. You’ll be safe.”

  Her face was pale, and her lips trembled. “I’m not sure any place is safe.” Her gaze went stony and determined. “I have to work, though. I don’t think they’ll try anything in the daylight. I won’t go to the house until it’s light, and I’ll return to the ship before it gets dark.”

  Grayson could see a dozen things wrong with her idea. “I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t either, but my carpenters are moving on to new jobs soon. I need to be there for the next two days to steer things in the right direction.”

  “I’ll have a car parked outside her house,” the sheriff said.

  Grayson moved away and dropped into the chair next to her. “If we find out what happened to Mac, I bet it leads us right to whoever is behind this.”

  He was going to have to call in some chips with headquarters. They knew more than they were saying. Even if it mean
t losing his job, he would have to dig out the truth.

  Chapter 26

  Just because construction isn’t typically thought of as a woman’s job doesn’t mean we aren’t equipped for it. We can do anything we set our minds to.

  —HAMMER GIRL BLOG

  Shauna curled up on the sofa beside Zach. The two rottweilers, Artemis and Apollo, snored at her feet, and Weasley lay belly up on her lap. She scratched the cat’s belly and nestled under Zach’s arm. He’d just taken allergy medicine, so the cat’s presence should be all right for a while. “I should have called Grayson today.”

  He dropped a kiss on top of her head. “You don’t want to smother him, honey. He still seems pretty shaken up by all of this. I think church was pretty overwhelming, too, with everyone coming up to him. And he’s neck-deep in protecting Ellie.”

  “You think I’m expecting too much, don’t you?”

  “Maybe just too much too fast. He’s got to figure out how to assimilate his adoptive family with his biological one.”

  “I have to admit I had a twinge of jealousy that he has another sister.” She hated how petty she felt admitting it.

  “It’s understandable.”

  She sensed a coiled intensity in Zach, a distraction in his tone. Pulling away a bit, she looked up to study his beloved face with its strong jawline and steady gaze. “Something bugging you? Is it because I’ve been too focused on my brother? You’re not feeling neglected, are you?”

  He barked out a laugh and shook his head. “I wouldn’t expect anything else, and I’m a little obsessed myself. I got a call from Grayson’s sister Isabelle. She gave me the name of someone at CPS for me to talk to. I’ve tracked down the paramedic you found the day of the earthquake.”

  “You’re kidding!” She felt like leaping from the sofa and dancing a jig, but she planted a joyful kiss on her husband instead. “You’re amazing. Who is she?”

  “You said she was blonde, right?”

  “Yes.” Her memories of the woman were clear because she’d been the face of hope in a scary situation.