“Family stuff? Like pictures?”
“Photo albums, sports trophies, framed pictures. Old music albums, even some old vinyl LPs. Like that. Why?”
“Grace remembered me as a kid after her mind worked on it awhile. Maybe seeing family albums would jog her synapses. Even listening to familiar music. Without short-term memory, she might find it easier to talk about years ago. It might be a way for you to connect with her. And she with you.”
He smacked himself in the forehead. “The nursing-home counselor mentioned something to me about that very thing when I first visited Ma. I was so blown away with how she was, I blanked on it afterward.”
Sporting an elated grin, he set down his soda and pulled Lani to her feet. “Thank you. When I finish with this last wall, I’ll dig through the boxes. You can help. And now I can do what I’ve wanted to do since we arrived at the house.” After planting a searing kiss on her, he went back to work, whistling.
In peripheral vision, she saw him smiling. He’d put her off balance with the boat name. Now this. How could she resist this man? And should she?
Chapter 18
The next evening, Lani accompanied Jake to the Blueberry Head Resort as Kevin Meagher’s fundraising gala was revving into high gear. The peninsula’s only resort comprised a sprawling complex of hotel, conference center, condos, and golf course on a broad projection into the Gulf of Maine. The oldies sounds of a local combo and the clink of glasses floated from the ballroom’s open windows.
“Thanks for the ticket,” Lani said.
He slapped his chest. “You don’t object to my paying? Not too much like a real date?”
She slanted a speaking look his way. He’d hit too close to the truth. “Doesn’t matter. It’s not a date. We’re investigating.”
“Remember it’s we, G-Woman. Don’t disappear by yourself.”
“I won’t leave your sight, mi capitán.”
Attending was essential, even at fifty dollars a ticket. And even if it meant support for Kevin the Wimp. She hadn’t caught up to Ava Warren again since the bartender promised to ask around about Gail’s affairs. Ava would be working the bar and Lani intended to corner her.
“Isn’t this the same place J.T. had a fundraiser way back when?” Jake asked her as they stepped into the spill of light from the party.
“Afraid so. Déjà vu all over again.” She heard the strain in her voice in spite of her flippant words.
He must’ve detected her unease too because he clasped her hand to stop her. Since the kiss yesterday, he’d kept hands off. Dammit.
“Hey, don’t let being here get to you. You’re safe with me.”
“I know.” She did. But inside she quaked. What if the killer tried again tonight? She’d just recovered from the carbon monoxide. “And most of our suspects are here where we can keep an eye on them.”
“I’ll have my eye on you. Especially the way you look in that dress.” The appreciation showed in his heated gaze.
The cocktail dress flirted with her knees and dipped low in the back. The hot-pink silk did look good. Compliments from men always made her suspicious but he wasn’t paying lip service or lying. His admiration boosted her confidence.
“Thank you. Nora and I didn’t have much time to shop today. I hit it lucky in Damariscotta.” She surveyed him, lean and mean in a dark-blue suit, white shirt, and blue tie. “You look spiffy yourself.”
“My court testifying suit.” He ran an index finger around inside the shirt collar. “Give me a T-shirt any day. Maybe I should ditch the ATF, take up carpentry.”
“You’d starve.”
His hearty laugh warmed her. No self-deprecating or reserved chuckle.
In the last few days he’d let down his guard. And so had she. But not tonight while they were here and maybe under scrutiny by Gail’s killer. And maybe Hector Vargas. As if the Mexican gangster had touched her, a shiver lifted the fine hairs on the back of her neck.
She was ready to go inside, away from the evening breeze and the yen for Jake’s strong embrace to warm her bare arms. “You ready to work the room?”
“Let’s do it. Maybe a little booze’ll shake loose some tongues and some memories.” He turned her to face him, his hands on her elbows.
She wanted to lean in for a kiss, but said, “What?”
“The killer could be at this party. Or Vargas. Or both.”
“Big shocker. But didn’t you just say I was safe here?” She eased out of the temporary haven of his arm. Her nerves vibrated like live wires, but she’d be safe in the crowd. Definitely.
“Safe, yeah, but with me. For what it’s worth.”
She wanted to reassure him but they’d arrived at the entrance with several other couples, so she merely squeezed his arm. Someday she’d get him to tell her the full story of what had happened in New Hampshire.
A teenage boy took their tickets and stamped their hands with a blue smiley face as they entered. From the stage at the far end of the room, the music segued from “Mack the Knife” to “Free Fallin’.” Was the band onto something? “Karma Police” would suit her better.
The resort had set up cash bars on both sides of the room. No Ava at either station.
Before she could mention not seeing her quarry, Nora and Kevin greeted them, thanking them for coming. Nora looked the gracious political hostess in her new dress, green with a matching shrug. Kevin, on the other hand, looked nervous. Sweat beaded his brow and his eyes were glassy.
“Hey, old buddy.” Jake clapped Kevin on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t miss it. The resort’s food and helping you over the top.”
“Let’s get you two something to drink.” Kevin led Jake off toward one of the bars.
“You’ll have to excuse Kev,” Nora said. “He’s on edge about tonight.”
“I can’t imagine why,” Lani replied. Excusing Kevin for anything, forcing any words remotely nice through her teeth ate acid into the enamel, although what she felt for him now resembled reluctant tolerance rather than anger. Fine with her if he couldn’t wait to escape her presence. “Just look at all the people who’ve forked over fifty dollars.”
Nora pruned her mouth. “I hope it’s enough. Money’s an issue. His dad can pull only so many strings.”
Lani had other matters on her mind. Not Kevin’s success in politics. “I need to talk to Ava Warren. I heard she was working here on her night off from the Wheelhouse.”
“I haven’t seen her.” Nora tugged Lani into a corner. “Have you heard what she’s been saying?”
That got Lani’s attention. “No, but I’m listening.”
“She bragged at the bar about knowing the identity of the other man in your sister’s life.”
Lani gasped, her pulse racing. What was Ava up to? A ploy to get money from her and Jake—or someone else—or were her claims only hot air stemming from jealousy? But maybe Lani was stampeding to conclusions. “What exactly do you mean?”
Nora leaned closer. “She claims to know who Gail saw after Jake left that night.”
*****
Jake ordered a white wine for Lani and a club soda for himself. He edged to the side of the bar so he could keep an eye on her. She still stood talking with Nora but with her hands firmly planted on her hips and that tongue-on-teeth thoughtful expression. Agitated.
He turned back to pay for his drinks in time to see Kevin knock back a shot of whiskey. Judging from his friend’s bleary eyes, he’d hoisted a few already.
“Take it easy, man,” he said. “You have a speech to give later.”
Kevin set down the shot glass and ordered a wine for Nora. He glanced toward J.T., who held court in the middle of a crowd. “Don’t you start on me. I’ve spit out this speech so many times I’m a robot recording.” He pushed an imaginary button on his chest.
Chalk up Kevin’s anxiety to his dad’s presence. Jake had other issues to deal with. He surveyed the room but caught no one paying him or Lani any undue attention.
He leaned closer and
spoke in a low voice. “I have more to ask you about Gail.”
The other man held up a hand in protest. “Hey, man, I told you all I know.”
“Maybe. You said she’d slept around. You didn’t say where you stood in that lineup.”
“Me?” Kevin shook his head hard enough to rattle his brain. His fleshy cheeks reddened. “No way. I didn’t touch Gail. She was yours. I don’t poach on my friends.” But he wouldn’t hold Jake’s gaze. Dammit, he was lying.
Even if by remote possibility Kevin hadn’t poached, Jake couldn’t count him blameless. A slow boil worked its way up from his gut to his throat. “Apparently others were—poaching, I mean—and you didn’t tell me.”
His old buddy hiked a shoulder in defense and picked up his wife’s white wine. “I figured you knew. Or maybe you didn’t want to know.”
Lame. And cowardly. “And no one said anything when Gail was killed? Afraid for yourself? Afraid saying anything would implicate you?”
When Kevin sweated more and didn’t reply, Jake had to force himself not to let the roiling inside him explode into physical violence. He jabbed a finger in his former friend’s chest, backing him up. “Or did you think I was guilty, that I’d found out and killed her?”
“No, I never—”
“Forget the protest, man. Did you expect I’d be grateful you didn’t rat me out? And I don’t believe your damn denial about Gail. Not that it matters now.”
A few people seemed to notice their raised voices. He didn’t give a damn who listened. Leaving Kevin mopping splashes of Nora’s wine from his shirt, Jake picked up his drink order and stalked off through the crowd. He needed to get to Lani.
Except she wasn’t where he’d left her.
“Chill out, bro. She’s over there by the other bar.”
Jake wheeled on the source of the restraining voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Hank held up his beer as a shield. His expression was serious except for the glint in his eyes. “Don’t dump your fury on me. I’m on your side.”
Buoyed by his brother’s support, Jake dipped his head and hauled in a breath to clear his brain. “I’d slug you or hug you but my hands are full.” He indicated the drinks.
“No prob. I can’t stay. Sure don’t care to hang around long enough to be subjected to Meagher’s tarnished-gold words.”
Jake spotted Lani on the other side of the room with Steve Quimby. She had to angle her gaze toward the rafters to converse with him. Her brow was furrowed in irritation, and Steve looked ready to bolt. No memory still, none he’d admit to, Jake bet.
Although he wanted to cross to Lani, he made an effort to carry on a normal conversation. “Nicole with you?”
Hank shook his head. “She had a company party. Zack’s with Uncle Paul and Aunt Beth. I’ll stay with them in Thomaston tonight.”
Jake knew there had to be more to the story. The couple’s troubles over Nicole’s disinterest in child raising seemed to have escalated. “You and Nicole okay?”
Hank made a throat-clearing sound. “Yeah, fine. Just fine. No worries here.” But his words didn’t ring with confidence.
His brother wasn’t a Meagher fan any more than he was these days. “You didn’t come to support Kevin.”
Hank smiled. “Stopped to see Ma earlier. Marina customer gave me the ticket to this shindig. I came because I figured you’d be here. Wanted to see how you were holding up. No news?”
“Nothing helpful.” Jake took a drink of his soda and turned to observe J.T.’s entourage. Kevin was glad-handing some fat-cat donors under his father’s watchful—and critical—eye. “Waiting for info on Steve and our next U.S. Representative.”
Hank snorted. “I’ve been observing Kevin since you guys were kids. He has a hot temper but not the brains to cover up a murder or keep it quiet this long. If he manages to get elected, he’ll be a one-termer. For the arson-murder, my bet’s on Steve.”
*****
“I told you all I can,” Steve said, shaking his head.
Lani could only watch as the tall man stalked toward the stage area, where people were gyrating to “All I Wanna Do.” All he wanted to do was escape. A big fat waste of her time and temper control.
She turned to see Jake weaving his way through the crowd toward her. Steely command in his jaw and shoulders, he looked determined.
“You were supposed to stay put.” He handed her the wine.
She smiled sweetly. “I’m fine, as you can see.”
The identity of the other man with him eluded her at first. A little taller and a little older than Jake, dark-blond hair. When he ambled closer, she saw the Wescott sky-blue eyes.
Jake’s brother was six years her senior, older enough he’d no longer lived at home when she and Gail were teenagers. She’d seen him only a few times during her summers in Dragon Harbor.
“Hank,” she said, “I haven’t seen you since forever.”
After shaking his hand, she felt Jake step to her side. She felt more secure with him near. He wasn’t touching her, but she could feel the heat of his body, smell the lime of his aftershave.
Hank grinned and searched above as if his memory was hanging from the glittering chandelier. “Probably not since I was about seventeen. You announced at the annual dock party my alternative rock band sounded like instruments falling downstairs.”
As if on cue, the band eased into lower decibels with a Sugar Ray ballad.
Jake sputtered into his soda. When he recovered, he said, “Good thing someone told the truth. Honey, you saved the whole family from loss of hearing.”
She took a sip of wine and offered a smile. “I call ‘em as I see ‘em—or hear ‘em, in that case. Jake, looks like Kevin got some straight talk from you just now.”
He rubbed his nape and worked his shoulders. “He denies being one of Gail’s conquests. I’ll tell you the rest later. You find Ava?”
“She’s not here. The caterer said she never showed up for work tonight. He’s pissed as hell. But I did learn something interesting from Nora.” She explained Ava’s boasting.
“Hope the woman told the cops or the fire investigator what she knows.”
“If she knows anything,” she said. “I have my doubts.”
“Either way, mouthing off like that’s risky,” Jake added. “What about Steve?”
She shrugged in resignation. “I wormed no more out of him than you did the other day. Just made him more defensive.”
“No sweat, you two,” Hank said. “I have a feeling your background checks will help someone stand out.”
“Well, no one’s standing out at the moment.” Lani waved a hand carelessly at the crowd.
The music stopped and a smattering of applause broke out. The county head of the political party stepped to the microphone. Time for Kevin’s speech. Lani wrinkled her nose before schooling her features to neutral.
She stilled as her gaze landed on someone unexpected. Fortyish, bland looking, complexion rubescent from the sun or from drink.
“What is it?” Jake whispered in her ear.
His warm hand on her bare back moved her to lean into him. “That man at the right of the stage. Dark hair, jeans, checked shirt. Who is he?”
“Works for Meagher,” Jake said. “I saw him at the Wheelhouse talking to Kevin about his paycheck. I see him around town some. Name’s Brandon. First or last, I don’t know. Why?”
A chill rippled down her spine. “That’s the man who’s been following me.”
Chapter 19
“Why would a dozer driver for Meagher be following you?” Jake asked later as he flipped on the Amy Jo’s cabin light.
He’d hustled Lani out of the party as soon as Kevin finished speaking. Hank had already left so there was no reason to stay and every reason to move her where he had more control over her safety. As much safety as he could provide.
“Beats me.” Lani kicked off her heeled sandals and perched on the padded bench beneath the starboard porthole. She propp
ed a throw pillow in front of her and curled her bare feet beneath her. Armoring herself? “But maybe you could get that official contact of yours to look into his background.”
“Already in the works.” He hung up his suit jacket and dragged off the polyester noose. Seating himself beside her, he slid his left arm behind her and played with her hair. “Brandon’s also one of the lobstermen involved in the trap war you saw in the newspaper the other day. No reason there I can imagine either. You’re sure he was following you?”
She hunched a shoulder and squeezed the pillow tighter. At least she didn’t pull away from him. “No way to be sure. But I saw him twice today, when Nora and I were shopping. Once in Bayport and again in Damariscotta. Hard to miss him in a truck with the Meagher Enterprises logo on the side.”
“Doesn’t seem like he’s too cool about it if he’s tailing you.” When she started to protest, he added, “Unless Kevin has something to do with it.” On the way from the reception, he’d related his conversation—correction, confrontation—with Kevin.
“Kevin’s excuses are lame, but who knows,” she said, turning her head and leaning into his caress like a kitten. “I don’t think he cares about this election as much as his dad does.”
“J.T.’s living his dreams through his son. His failed dreams. And those for his lost son. J.T. knows Kevin is nothing like John Junior. And probably doesn’t let Kevin forget it. He’s had to deal with the comparison his whole life.”
“He doesn’t hold up under pressure. No wonder he couldn’t stifle his revulsion at my injuries in the fire.” Her eyes held sorrow but no bitterness.
Jake cupped the back of her head, wanting more than casual touching. Damn. High school nerves. No, junior high. “You’ve forgiven him for dumping you so cruelly?”
“Forgive? Not really, but I understand him better. The break-up was no big loss. I wasn’t in love with him so that helps.”
Her blasé tone sounded forced. Even if she hadn’t harbored strong feelings for Kevin, his and her father’s rejections hurt her deeply. But she soldiered on, thickening her shell against further pain.
Once Burned (Task Force Eagle) Page 16