Dev stopped and shot her a questioning look.
“Sorry, sir, I can’t help it, I’m just . . . nosy, I guess.” Despite the words, she didn’t appear the least bit apologetic.
Now it was Dev’s turn to hide a smile. “Ahh, I see. For a minute there I thought you were the captain of the phone tree for radio station gossip.”
“No, sir. That would be Andy. Sir.”
Incredulous, he could only shake his head as he left.
His first order of business, a shower and shave, then clean clothes. Then he had to track Amanda down. Phone calls were useless, it was too easy for her to hang up. No, this had to be done in person. Should he bring flowers? Nah, too cheesy a cliché.
He didn’t know how he would convince her to take him back. But he would convince her. This time he made the promise to himself.
CHAPTER 26
Amanda had to park on the roadside and walk up to the Wyndham’s. The long drive was clogged with several large black SUVs, two panel trucks with police emblems on their sides, and an ambulance. Men and women wearing jackets with CSI on their backs were carrying cases back down the driveway toward her.
A few steps behind them she saw Agent Baley talking on his cell phone. When he spotted her, he started walking her way. His clipped responses to whoever was on the other end still held a hint of excitement.
“Yes, we’ve sent two divers down already. We should be raising it out of the water in a few moments.” Pause. “Yes, sir. The team is here.” He looked at Amanda. “Yes. His daughter just arrived. There’s no doubt it’s Mr. Adams though. The license plates match and so does the car make and model.” Pause. “I’ll let you know as soon as we get results back. They’re going to have to take the body to Salisbury to do the autopsy.” He caught the anguish on her face and ended his call abruptly.
“You’re sure it’s my dad?” She blinked rapidly and took a couple of deep breaths.
“Yes, ma’am. Everything matches the description you gave me.” He pointed down the road toward the old house they had used to stage the party. “The car was fairly far away from the Wyndham’s dock. It was pure luck the dredging company discovered it when they deepened the channel for the Wyndham’s new boat.” He put his hand on her back and they walked down the road together. “It will actually be easier to get to it from the old lot. It appears the car went into the bay from there.”
She nodded, a shiver snaking up her spine when she realized how close she had been when they had spent so many hours at the old house. The ambulance passed them and turned into the area they had cleared for parking. Agent Baley put his hand on her arm to slow their progress.
“Are you going to be okay with this? You don’t have to be here, you know. The divers have already confirmed it’s your dad’s car and that there is a body in the driver’s seat. They’ll put your father’s remains in a bag underwater to keep any evidence that might be left intact. There won’t be much for you to see.”
“No. I want to stay. I’ve been searching for him for so long . . .” She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “I’ll stay.”
“All right. Mrs. Wyndham gave me the key to the old place. I know you used it last week, so if you have to . . .”
Sit down? Throw up? She nodded in understanding. “I’ll be fine, Agent Baley. Let’s go.” They walked past the house toward the water. The undergrowth hadn’t been trimmed along this far edge of the lot for a long time. Loblolly pines twenty feet or more high towered along the property line. Large clumps of blue flag with grass-like leaves three feet tall hindered their progress, their violet-blue flowers just coming into bloom. Vines snaked along the ground and curled around any vertical surface, transforming wires, poles, and trees into shrouded, semi-human likenesses.
As they neared the water’s edge, she heard her name called and turned to see Zoe, Jeff, and . . . she squinted against the bright sunlight from her place in the shade . . . Dev. Her stomach added another half hitch to its string of knots. A double-whammy of a day. How did he even know about all this?
Zoe sprinted ahead of the other two and threw her arms around Amanda. “Oh, hon, are you okay? I had Jeff drop everything and pick me up right after you called. We thought you might need some moral support.”
Amanda hugged her back and whispered in her ear as the others caught up, “And Dev? You called him, too? Why would you do that?”
“I didn’t,” she whispered back. “He passed us coming from your house and turned around. Said he’s been looking for you.” She shrugged. “I figured he might as well know. By tonight the news will be all over town anyway.”
Jeff came over and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Hi, Beautiful. You hangin’ in there okay?”
She forced a smile. “I’m doing fine, Jeff. Thanks for coming.”
Dev came up and attempted to take her hand but she tucked both behind her back.
“I’m sure I’m the last person you want to see right now,” he began.
“True. What are you doing here?” She held up her hand to stop his reply. “You know, I don’t care why you came, but I don’t need you here.” She turned away and waked to the waterline just as the car was lifted from the bay about fifteen feet off shore. Water cascaded off the vehicle, now slimy green over most of its surface. Huge collections of eelgrass and wild celery clung to it, dripping brackish water that smelled foul. Involuntarily, Amanda backed away, catching her foot on a clump of trout lilies. Strong arms grabbed her from behind and kept her from going down in the soft ground.
“Thanks. It’s treacherous under foot out here. I—” She turned to face her rescuer and angrily shoved his arms away when she saw it was Dev. “I thought I told you I didn’t need you here.”
He held his hands up to stave off any more angry words. “I can see you don’t.”
Her chin came up and her eyes narrowed. Her hands curled into tight fists.
“I was on my way to see you . . . I have to talk to you, darli— Amanda,” he amended hastily. He backed up to give her more space. “I realize this is a terrible time to ask you, but it’s important, Amanda. I need to talk to you. Please, can I see you later when you’re finished here?”
“You’re right again, Dev. This is a terrible time. I can’t imagine anything that we need to discuss at this point. Just go away, please.” She turned pointedly away and concentrated on the car she remembered from childhood.
For a while it just hung there, suspended about ten feet in the air. About twenty feet further along the shoreline two divers emerged from the inlet carrying a black bag. She was certain that she didn’t want to see what fifteen years in the Chesapeake Bay had done to her father’s handsome face. Much better to remember him as he had been the last time she saw him.
Tears burned the back of her eyes and she couldn’t seem to get any air into her lungs. A faint ringing began in her ears and her hands turned to ice. She squeezed her eyes shut. “Zoe.” She put her arm out—away from Dev, who still stood behind her—and groped feebly for her friend’s hand.
“I’m here, hon.” Zoe clasped her hand, at the same time throwing a ‘get lost’ signal to Dev with a jerk of her head.
“I think I’ll go back to the house and, and . . . get some water.” Amanda loosened her grip on Zoe and her knees buckled.
Dev caught her and swung her up in his arms. Her head lolled against his chest. Too dizzy to complain that he’d picked her up, she kept her eyes closed and prayed for the ground to stop spinning beneath them.
“Is the house unlocked?”
The soft rumble of his voice made her want to snuggle her cheek into his chest. She fought off the temptation and pushed weakly against him, the feel of his muscles so familiar it made her already aching heart twice as painful.
Agent Baley’s voice sounded far away and Amanda couldn’t seem to get her
eyes open.
“I was afraid this might be tough on her. Should I get someone from the ambulance crew?”
“I don’t think she needs that.” Zoe took the key from Agent Baley. “Let’s get her up to the house and let her lay down. She’s been under a lot of strain lately. I think she’s just a bit lightheaded. If she doesn’t come round in a few minutes, we’ll get one of the paramedics.”
Zoe trotted ahead to unlock the back door and Jeff followed behind Dev, who laid her on the sheet-covered sofa. Amanda’s eyes fluttered open and she struggled to sit up.
Jeff brought in a glass of water, and Zoe got a chair and settled next to her.
A rapid knocking on the front door made them all jump.
“I’ll get it,” Jeff said, handing the water to Dev.
Dev was next to her in an instant, supporting her back and holding the glass to her lips. “Here, dar— Amanda. Drink this.”
She took a sip and focused on the one who held the glass. Her color came back in a rush. “You! Didn’t I ask you to leave? Why are you still here?”
Amanda pushed Dev’s hand away. “I don’t want any more of that.” She wrinkled her nose at the water.
“I don’t blame you, my dear. Brandy would be much more the thing.”
Mrs. Wyndham stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips. As the older woman came over to the sofa, she issued orders over her shoulder. “Mr. Petrosky, please go up to the big house and bring back a bottle of brandy. There should be an open one on the bar in the library.” She glared down at Amanda and tsked. “Poor girl. This must be a terrible shock to you.” She smiled at Zoe and Dev. “It’s good that you have people who care about you on hand.”
Realizing she had unconsciously been leaning against Dev, Amanda sat bolt upright. In her most forbidding Ice Princess voice, she dismissed him. “Thank you for your help. I’m sure I’ll be fine now. Please go, I don’t want to keep you . . .”
Mrs. Wyndham looked between the two of them. Disappointment followed surprise on her face.
Dev set the glass on the table and stood. “I’m glad I could be of service,” he said, just as formally. “If there is anything else that I can do—”
“There isn’t.”
Dev nodded and left.
At the sound of the door closing, Mrs. Wyndham wagged her finger at Amanda. “I don’t know what’s happened between the two of you, but that was foolish, my dear. It’s plain to see that man loves you. No matter what he’s done, he doesn’t deserve such poor treatment.”
“I beg to differ with your assessment of Dev’s feelings, Mrs. Wyndham. He doesn’t love me. He’s merely keeping a promise he made to a dead man.”
She drew her knees up and locked her arms around them, burying her face against them.
Mrs. Wyndham sighed deeply, cocking her head then shaking it sadly. “My dear, you are just like your father. Stubborn, both of you.” She opened her mouth the say something more, then snapped it closed. She went to the front door. “Where is that young man? Must I do everything myself? Ah, thank goodness, here he comes.”
Jeff hurried through the door, the bottle of brandy tucked under one arm. At her imperious gesture, he handed it over. She rewarded him with a beatific smile and a pat on the cheek. “Thank you, dear.”
“I have one more request, Jeff,” she said with a coy smile. “Will you bring in a glass from the kitchen, please?”
When he returned with it, she splashed two fingers of the dark gold liquid in the bottom and handed it to Amanda. “Now, I want you to drink this, my girl. All of it. Don’t worry about driving home. I’ll have one of those nice FBI men take you. You’ve had a very trying day, and this will help you relax. Go on, now.” She stood over Amanda until she took a sip.
The brandy left a fiery trail down her throat but settled comfortably in her stomach. She took another sip. The second one didn’t burn quite so much. Over the next few minutes the warmth spread, slowly thawing her icy hands. Emotional upheaval was certainly tiring. Mrs. Wyndham’s idea to have someone drive her home sounded better with each passing minute.
Agent Baley poked his head through the doorway. “Ms. Adams? How are you feeling?”
“Much better, Agent Baley. I’m sorry to have been so much trouble.” She took another sip of brandy.
“Think nothing of it, ma’am. I’ve seen much worse reactions in similar situations.” He studied her then glanced at Zoe and Jeff.
“If you have something to tell me, you can speak freely in front of my friends, Agent Baley. They all know the circumstances surrounding my dad’s disappearance.”
“All right. Your father’s remains have been removed from the car and are on their way to Salisbury for autopsy. The vehicle will follow as soon as we can get it on a lift. The forensic folks are taking photographs and attempting to get prints.”
At Amanda’s raised brows, he nodded. “Not likely, I agree, but we don’t want to miss anything. Your father may have been one of the Highway Hijacker’s first victims. Or it could just be that he didn’t get to use this dumpsite again for any number of reasons. The divers have searched widely enough to be certain that your father’s car was the only one out there. They collected most of the evidence underwater but there are still things that need to be done before we remove the vehicle. You don’t need to be here for any of that. I’ll have one of my men drive you home,” he finished with a nod toward the glass Amanda still held. It was almost empty now. “Do you have someone who can stay with you tonight?”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine, Agent Ba—”
“I’ll stay with her,” Zoe interrupted. “Don’t argue, Mandy. You should have someone around tonight.”
Agent Baley flipped open his cell phone. “Good. Ms. Adams, I’ll be in touch with you as soon as we know anything.” He dialed and started talking as he left.
“Listen, Zoe, I’ll be fine. I’ll have some soup and climb into bed. A good night’s rest is all I need, and there’s no point in you sitting around watching me sleep.” She held out her hand to Jeff. “Thanks for being such a good friend, Jeff. Take Zoe home, and I’ll check in with her in the morning.”
“Anything for you, Beautiful.” He winked. “Do you want to take the rest of this bottle of brandy home, or should I take it back up to the big house?”
“Oh, I don’t think I should—”
“Yeah, she’ll take it,” Zoe said and picked up the bottle. “I’m sure Mrs. W had lots more. She won’t miss this.”
In a few minutes a young man with FBI stenciled on his jacket knocked at the front door. “Someone in here need a ride?”
“That would be me.” Amanda stood up, doing her best to appear calm and composed. The brandy made her a little unsteady, but the warmth was blurring the sharp edges of pain that sliced at her heart.
“Thank you so much for the ride. It won’t take long, my house isn’t very far.”
“No problem, ma’am. Right this way.”
He ushered her out and into one of the black SUVs. She rolled down the window. “I’ll call you in the morning, Zo. Thanks again.”
“If you need anything tonight, I don’t care what time it is, you call me, okay?”
“Okay.” Amanda leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes as the car backed down the driveway.
Dev sat in his truck in front of Amanda’s house. Between her father’s discovery and what he’d put her through on that fateful Saturday, she must be having a hard time finding her balance. When her knees buckled and he’d caught her up in his arms, he never wanted to let her go. If he hadn’t been so stupid, he’d be the one comforting her now instead of Zoe and Jeff. But she’d made it perfectly clear at the Wyndham’s that she didn’t want to see him, talk to him, even be within half a mile of him. So given those restrictions, how could he convince her that he loved
her? He smacked the steering wheel and swore. The timing couldn’t be worse.
He toyed with the idea of hiding the truck and walking back here to wait for her. He still had the key. He could go inside and when she came home, she’d have to talk to him.
Yeah, idiot, don’t give her a choice, just treat her like a child who can’t make an intelligent decision on her own. That worked really well last time. No, the trick was to get her to want to listen to what he had to say. He could write her a letter, but pouring his heart out on paper wasn’t his strong suit.
Plan B began to take shape in his head. He put the truck in gear and drove back into town, parked behind the Silvercreek Gallery, and waited for Zoe to return.
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