Twisted Rock

by Jill Sanders

  While she waited for everything to finish cooking, she threw together a three-layer brownie trifle. She’d made the brownies earlier that day while Sawyer had been napping and just had to put it all together in a glass container, making sure that each layer was perfect, like a piece of artwork. She topped it all with chocolate shavings and placed the container back in the refrigerator to chill.

  She went into the formal dining room and set the table. She threw a few more logs onto the fireplace and, once again, as she walked by the basement door, thought about going downstairs to find the perfect wine.

  This time, however, instead of feeling defeated, she thought about how many times she’d gone downstairs over the past year.

  She’d spent almost a full week down there, clearing out all the clutter that the previous owners had left–furniture that had been rotted, old belongings that someone had treasured once.

  The entire time she was down there, Isaac had been there, and she hadn’t known it. It hadn’t bothered her then, why was it different now that he was actually gone? Would she ever feel comfortable going down there alone again?

  She refused to be a prisoner in her own home. Reaching for the door handle, she took a deep breath and twisted it. Once again, the cold air hit her, reminding her that the glass sliding doors the new contractor had ordered hadn’t arrived yet. James Dylan, her new contractor, was hopeful the large glass doors would be there sometime this week. Once they arrived, he could install them, snow or no snow.

  She took the first step down, then the next, all while holding her breath. The light flickered slightly when she hit the bottom stair, causing her to jump.

  She avoided looking across the room and, instead, focused on the wine closet. Opening the door quickly, she stepped in and took her first breath since coming downstairs as the door closed behind her.

  She took her time picking out a bottle of wine that would complement the meal. She chose a sauvignon blanc that someone had given them as a gift and reached for the door, ready to head back upstairs.

  Her eyes traveled past the glass door and her hand on the door handle froze when she spotted the snowy footprints just inside the massive plywood piece that hung over the open spot in the wall.

  The bottle of wine slipped from her hand. The glass shattered, and wine rushed over the pants and socks she’d been wearing.

  Without thinking, she rushed from the wine closet and ran up the stairs.

  She slammed the basement door and turned to run to get Sawyer. When she bumped into a solid chest, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

  “Easy,” Sawyer said, his hands going to her shoulders to hold her steady.

  “Some… someone was down there.” She pointed to the basement.

  “What?” He shoved her behind him. “Now?”

  “N-n-n-o, s-snowy footprints.” She couldn’t control the shaking.

  “Did you see someone?” he asked.

  She shook her head, too afraid to speak. Her throat had closed, and her head felt light.

  “Stay here.” He took hold of the door handle just as the front doorbell chimed.

  “Julie.” She took a step back and glanced around. Why had she thought it was a good idea to invite her friend into this madhouse?

  “Hang on.” He took her hand and started walking. He glanced down.

  “You’re bleeding,” he gasped. She looked down and realized that she was getting wine all over her floor.

  “No, it’s wine. I dropped the bottle.” She bent down and pulled off her socks and tossed them on the tile floor.

  Sawyer picked her up, and she scolded him when he winced, but he shushed her as he carried her to the living area and set her on the sofa. Then he marched past her and opened the front door.

  “Hi.” She heard Julie’s voice go from friendly to sexy. “Is Rose home?”

  “She’s in the living area.” He motioned. “Come keep her company. She’s just had a shock.”

  “Rose?” Her friend’s voice turned to concern.

  “In here,” she called out, feeling stupid. Her feet were sticky with wine, which was also dripping off her pants onto the new wood flooring.

  “Are you okay?” Julie dropped her bags inside the room and rushed to her side.

  “Yes.” She filled her friend in as Sawyer made his way down to the basement to check on the footprints. When he came back up, she interrupted her story and asked him. “Did you find anything?”

  “Footprints, men’s size ten.”

  “How do you know that?” Julie asked. Her friend’s dark eyebrows went up.

  “I wear size eleven, and I’d wager they’re a size smaller. I took pictures and made sure the board was secure again. I added a few more screws. Whoever got in, won’t be doing it again. Unless we get some warmer weather, I think they’ll keep until the chief and the detective get here. Are you cut?” he asked, getting down on his knees in front of her and checking her feet.

  There was a small stinging in her heel and she winced when he pulled out a piece of glass.

  “I’ll get the medical kit.” He turned to go.

  “Who is tall, dark, and sexy?” Julie asked when they were alone again.

  “Sawyer,” she answered. “He’s a friend.”

  “A friend or a… friend?” Julie asked, drawing out the last word.

  Before she could answer, Sawyer walked back in, carrying the small case she kept in the pantry. She didn’t know how he’d known it was there when she’d completely forgotten about it.

  He gently cleaned the small cut and put a bandage over her heel.

  “You may want to change out of those pants.” He nodded to the wine still dripping from them.

  “I’ll be right back.” She looked over at Julie. “I can show you to your room, so you can freshen up before dinner.”

  “Something smells wonderful.” Julie jumped up and helped her to her feet. “During dinner, I expect a full report of what the heck has been going on in your life.”

  She chuckled and nodded.

  Since the wine had soaked her pants and feet, she jumped in the shower quickly to rinse off. Then, instead of pulling on another pair of pants, she tugged on a pair of black leggings and a large cream sweater to go over it. She put on a thick pair of wool socks, tied her hair up in a loose bun, and reapplied a little makeup.

  When she walked downstairs, Julie and Sawyer were sitting in the living room talking. Julie had a glass of wine in her hand and Sawyer jumped up when he spotted her.

  “I hope it’s okay, I grabbed another bottle of whatever you dropped. I tried to clean up, but… I didn’t know where your mop was.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

  “The chief says he’ll stop by first thing in the morning. There was a hitch with Owens,” Sawyer added.

  “What kind of hitch?” she asked.

  “He wouldn’t say, told me he’d fill us in tomorrow.” He shrugged.

  She nodded, and Julie stood up and hugged her.

  “Hi.” Her friend smiled at her. She’d changed from her travel clothes and had pulled on a pair of cream-colored leggings and a black sweater. “Look, we match,” she joked.

  Rose hugged her again. “It’s so good to see you.” She sighed and took in the feeling of holding onto her friend.

  “Let’s go eat. Dinner should be ready by now and I’m sure you’re hungry.” She took Julie’s hand and led her out of the living room.

  They all sat around the table, enjoying the meal she’d made, drinking the wine she’d picked, and making small talk. Julie filled her in on her trip up there, how she’d enjoyed driving in the snow, and how it had reminded her of her time in Alaska.

  She asked Sawyer a few basic questions—what he did, where he lived, how he was injured.

  When Rose set dessert and a fresh carafe of hot coffee on the table, the talk turned towards Isaac’s and Willis’s murders.

  “Another man was murdered here?” Julie glanced around.
“Yesterday?”

  Rose sighed and nodded.

  “A few hundred yards from here,” Sawyer added. “We have no idea if that murder has anything to do with Isaac’s. It could be simply a—”

  “What?” Julie jumped in. “A different murder? You mean, instead of one murderer, there might be two running around?” She turned to Rose. “That’s it, you’re packing up and coming back to the city with me.”

  Her friend was serious, but Rose knew she couldn’t leave. This was her home. Just like she needed to conquer the fear of her basement, she had to stand her ground.

  “I appreciate the offer”—she reached over and touched Julie’s hand—“but I can’t. I belong here.”

  Julie’s eyes turned to Sawyer. “Tell me you’re sticking around here, and I’ll feel better.”

  “I am.” He nodded.

  Rose knew that it was on the tip of his tongue to tell Julie that he was only here for a week, but instead, he looked over at her and asked for more dessert.

  Sixteen

  There’s always a first time…

  After dinner, they all headed back into the living room. She poured herself and Julie another glass of wine as they made themselves comfortable in front of the fire.

  “My god,” Julie said, relaxing back and putting her socked feet up. “That meal was worth the long drive up here. Like I’ve always said, you could go into the culinary arts and make a lot of people happy.”

  Rose chuckled.

  “I’m going to let the dogs out,” Sawyer said before sitting down. She moved to get up, but he stopped her. “I’ve got this. Stay, enjoy some time with your friend. I’ll probably head up and get some rest. I’m feeling tired and wonderfully full now.”

  “Thank you.” She set Tsuna down on the floor. The little dog rushed after Ozzy and Sawyer.

  Julie turned to her once they heard the back door open and close. “Okay, dish.”

  She smiled. “He’s just a friend.”

  “Right, girl.” Julie sighed. “I wish I had a friend that looked at me like that man looks at you.”

  “How does he look at me?” she asked.

  “Like Rhett Butler looked at Scarlet.”

  Rose laughed. “You can do better than that,” she joked.

  Julie thought about it for a moment, then added. “He looked at you like Noah looked at Allie in The Notebook.” Julie frowned.

  Rose tilted her head and raised her eyebrows.

  Julie thought about it for a second. “He looks at you like he’s Christian Grey and he wants to drag you to the red room.” Her friend’s smile turned wicked.

  Rose laughed. “I like that one.” She thought about doing all the things with Sawyer that the book had described and giggled.

  “Girl, you need to lock that in.” They grew silent when the back door opened, and they could hear Sawyer talking softly to the dogs. Then she listened as he took the back stairs up to his room. She was sure that both dogs followed him up to bed.

  “Tell me, at least, that you’ve kissed that man?” Julie asked.

  “What is this? High school?” Rose laughed.

  “No, but if I drink enough wine, we can pretend and braid each other’s hair.” Julie held up her wineglass.

  “I’m so happy you’re here.” She picked up the bottle and poured more wine for the both of them.

  Half an hour later, after filling Julie in about everything that had been happening to her over the last few weeks, they emptied the bottle of wine.

  “How about some more wine?” Julie asked.

  Rose’s eyes turned to the basement door. “Come downstairs with me?”

  “Of course. I want to see those footprints and that wall myself.” Her friend tugged her up from the sofa.

  Once again, she had to take a deep breath before reaching for the door handle. Her friend placed her hand over hers and together they turned the knob.

  “Brrr.” Julie shivered. “Is it always this cold?”

  “Until they put in the glass doors, it’s as cold inside here as it is outside,” Rose answered.

  Julie took her arm and they made their way down the stairs together. This time when the lights flickered, they both jumped, then giggled.

  “The wine closet.” She nodded towards the glass door.

  “Closet?” Julie gawked. “That looks more like a bedroom that your wine sleeps in.” She chuckled. Then Julie dropped Rose’s hand and made her way across the large room.

  Rose stayed where she was. “Don’t mess the footprints up,” she called out.

  “I won’t,” Julie said back. “This room is bigger than I thought.”

  Rose nodded and glanced around. At one point, she’d thought of turning the space into a game room or breaking it out into several different rooms. She held in a shiver. Now she didn’t care if she cemented the entire thing in.

  “You know,” Julie said as she stood next to the cement wall. “I didn’t always like Isaac, but I didn’t think he should end up like that.” Her friend made her way back over to her side and took her arm. “Even if he was cheating on you. Maimed and castrated, sure, but not rotting in a cement wall.”

  “Thanks, I think.” She sighed.

  “How about we liberate some more of that trapped wine?” Julie nodded towards the glass door. “Then dig into some more dessert as we talk about sexy men with green eyes?” Julie wiggled her eyebrows.

  * * *

  Rose woke the next morning with a hangover. Keeping her eyes closed, she made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then waited until the water heated before stepping in.

  She dipping her head under the spray and stayed there until she felt halfway normal. She could sleep in, but she wanted to make banana oatmeal muffins for the chief’s visit that morning. Besides, she knew Sawyer and the dogs would already be up by now.

  Dressing in an outfit much like last night’s, she made her way down the stairs and wasn’t surprised when the smell of coffee greeted her. Both dogs rushed to her side when she walked into the kitchen. Sawyer was sitting at the table, a cup of coffee steaming beside him as he worked on his laptop.

  “Morning,” she said, passing by him and heading to pour herself a cup of coffee.

  “Morning.” He shut the top of his laptop. As his eyes ran over her, his smile grew. “Did you have fun last night?”

  “Yes.” She smiled and leaned against the countertop, sipping the coffee. “It’s been almost a year since Julie has visited.” Julie had been there for Isaac’s funeral, but Rose had been too far in a haze of emotions to remember most of the short visit.

  “Deter should be here soon.” He glanced down at his watch.

  “About that. I was going to make some muffins, so he could take them into the office.”

  “You don’t have to do that, but I’m sure he and the gang will enjoy them,” Sawyer answered.

  She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out the container with the batter in it. After heating the oven, she busied herself adding the bananas and nuts.

  “Do you always have things pre-made like that?” he asked.

  She smiled. “I like planning ahead.” She put the first pan into the oven. Glancing outside, she realized that it had stopped snowing. Walking over to the door, she smiled at the blue sky. The sight made her want to spend the day outside, painting on the small balcony off her studio.

  She hadn’t heard Sawyer move, but suddenly, he was behind her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

  “In case I forgot to say it last night in my zombie state, thank you for dinner. It was amazing.”

  She turned, her eyes meeting his. “You’re welcome. It’s nice cooking for others again.”

  “I like your friend Julie,” he added.

  “She likes you.” She smiled.

  “Yeah, I gathered that when she called me McHottie over dinner.”

  “She did not…” Then Rose remembered and chuckled. “Okay, she did.”

  He smiled. “She’s
just what you needed.” His smile fell away. “I thought I’d be in the way.”

  As an answer, she reached up quickly and covered his lips with her finger.

  “Don’t. I don’t think I would be able to sleep without you here. Seeing those footprints…” She shivered.

  His arms came around here. “I’m here,” he said softly and she melted against his chest.

  “Morning,” Julie said cheerfully from the doorway.

  “Morning.” Rose jumped away from Sawyer’s warmth and smiled over at her friend.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” Julie’s eyebrows rose and fell quickly.

  “You didn’t,” Rose answered. She walked over to the oven and checked on the muffins just as the front doorbell rang.

  “That will be the chief.” Sawyer walked from the room.

  “Wow.” Julie pounded her hand over her heart. “Straight out of the movies.” She sighed as she leaned against the counter.

  “Seriously.” Rose sighed. “I hate to say it, but Isaac never did that to me.”

  “What? Make eyes at you in the kitchen?” Julie asked.

  “Make my knees feel weak and my heart race a million miles an hour,” Rose answered.

  “No man has done that to me, yet.” Julie sighed heavily. “Can I help you with breakfast?” She glanced around.

  “No, you’re my guest. Grab a cup of coffee. The muffins will be out soon.”

  Her friend gave her a friendly salute, then went and got a mug down.

  “Oh, grab two. Chief Deter will want a cup.”

  “Yes, he does.” The chief walked into the kitchen, following Sawyer.

  “I figured we’d head down first, then talk.” Sawyer opened the basement door.

  “Coffee first.” The chief took the cup from Julie.

  “Black?” she asked.

  “Yes, thank you.” He nodded at Julie. “Matthew Deter.” He held out his hand.

  “Julie Cromer.” Julie shook the man’s hand.

  “The agent from New York?” he asked. When Julie looked surprised, he shrugged. “We had to look into Mrs. Clayton’s past.”