She and her friends did laugh at the pursuits of the other students—only because they were jealous. Or at least she was.
Annie grabbed for a paper towel. “The rest of us were worried about acceptance and fitting in. I dated Dave to be in the popular crowd and found out later I had to pay a high price—until Matt rescued me.”
“So you’re going to snap pictures of that police report?”
Someone tried the door handle and then pounded on the door. “Hey, this isn’t supposed to be locked.”
“I told Matt I’d do it and I will. Brett…the chief called me after I spoke to Matt and wouldn’t take no for an answer for a dinner date. I gave the chief a later meeting time so I could get the camera from Matt. I’m going to do it, Kylie.”
The door rattled again, and Kylie moved in closer to Annie and whispered, “You’d better not double-cross Matt.”
She flung open the door, confronting a scowling woman. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I’d locked it.”
She breezed out of the bathroom and flopped into her chair. “Okay, I guess we’re just going to have to trust her.”
“Did she convince you in there?”
“How can you ever be sure? But I guess we have to trust her. She has the camera now. She’s either going to do it or tell Brett.”
“Brett?”
“That’s Chief Evans to you and me. They’re dating, apparently.”
Matt leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Is she ever going to learn?”
“You don’t think Evans is abusive, do you?”
“I don’t know. He seems the type—power hungry, arrogant.”
“Well, that’s not our problem now. I just hope she comes through for you.”
“For us.” Matt covered her hand with his.
Kylie snorted. “I don’t flatter myself that she’s doing anything for me.”
Matt brushed his hands together. “It’s a done deal now. Are you going to finish those onion rings?”
“Help yourself, but we need to get going.”
“We do?”
“I need to get going. There’s something I have to do.”
“Now? Tonight?”
She avoided his searching eyes by plowing through her purse. “Uh-huh.”
“Are you going to tell me?” He gestured to the waiter. “Check, please.”
“I’m going back to the concert grounds.”
“What?”
“I’m ready, Matt.” She wound her hair around one hand and tossed it over her shoulder. “I had a dream about my mother, but I think she was talking to Bree this time. She knew something, sensed danger around Bree.”
“Kylie, it’s not safe to go back there, especially after what happened this afternoon.”
She arched one eyebrow. “Now you’re admitting that it might not have been an accident?”
“Why take chances? Who knows what’s going on at the concert grounds tonight?”
“You afraid there might be a wild orgy?”
“That would be the least of your worries. Why can’t you get in touch with Bree in your hotel room?”
“Because Bree wasn’t in my hotel room. She was at the concert. It’s better.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“I—I’d like that. Sometimes…” She stopped. She’d never let anyone in on the secrets of her profession. She’d always been afraid that it would dilute her power. That belief had isolated her over the years.
“Sometimes what?”
She pressed her fingertips to her eyelids. “Sometimes when I have a vision or a communication, it weakens me. In the end, I believe that’s why my mother killed herself. She wasn’t as good at filtering as I am. The sensations would bombard her unbidden. She never knew which world she inhabited half the time.”
“Then let me be there for you, Kylie. This is dangerous stuff. You shouldn’t be alone.”
She didn’t want to be alone. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t want to be alone.
She stabbed a finger at the check. “Then whip out some of that expense account money and pay the bill.”
As they left the restaurant, Kylie glanced at Annie and Chief Evans laughing and sharing a dessert.
She couldn’t blame Annie. A girl deserved a warm body now and then.
“I suppose you need to change clothes again. You’re not going to go traipsing about in the wilderness with those shoes.”
“It’s hardly the wilderness.”
Matt opened the car door for her. “Oh, I don’t know. Have you ever been out there by yourself? No lights, no other people, just you and the coyotes.”
Kylie shivered before sliding into the seat of the car. “When you put it that way.”
They both changed clothes and got back into Kylie’s car.
“Do you think anyone’s going to be there?” Kylie clenched the steering wheel with clammy hands as she accelerated onto the highway.
“Probably. The concert opens in a few days. Even if the crew isn’t working around the clock, there’s bound to be some of them staying on-site. Didn’t you see the trailers behind the stage?”
“I didn’t notice.” She glanced at his profile. “Maybe you can question more people since your investigation sort of got cut off today.”
“I don’t want to be too far away from you.”
She didn’t want that either.
“And I don’t want to hold up your investigation.” She swung the car down the road that cut through the trees and thick foliage. “It doesn’t seem like you’re getting anywhere since you have to stop and rescue me every hour on the hour.”
Losing reception, the radio crackled and hissed and Matt fiddled with the buttons. “I’m waiting for that police report. It will give me something to investigate. Mr. Harris didn’t know much about his daughter’s activities down here, and I don’t think he ever requested to read the police report—too painful I guess.”
“I had the same problem with Mrs. Harris. She seemed to think I could just come down here with her daughter’s scarf and Bree would communicate with me and tell me what happened.”
Matt snapped his fingers. “And it doesn’t work that way.”
Kylie parked the car in a clearing next to two other cars and turned to Matt. “You don’t seem concerned about Annie and Chief Evans.”
“Call me an idiot, but I trust her.”
“I suppose the worst she could do at this point is tell the chief. It means we’d never get our hands on the report, but it would end there.”
“She’s not going to tell the chief and this time tomorrow night, we’ll be reading the police report.”
Kylie envied Matt his confidence. Maybe it had something to do with growing up independent and self-reliant. Matt Conner had always been his own boss…even at thirteen. His trust in his fellow man surprised her, given the number of times the adults in Matt’s life had let him down.
She stepped out of the car and inhaled the mingled scents of the ocean and pine needles. She had to hand it to Sloan. He’d picked a great place for an outdoor concert—too bad he couldn’t guarantee the safety of the concertgoers.
Matt stretched and cupped a hand to his ear. “Sounds like we have company.”
Rock music floated on the air and an occasional shout of laughter pierced the calm night.
“Roadies partying?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Matt parted two branches. “Come on. I’ll lead the way.”
They trampled through the underbrush again and peered between leaves at the bowl, still buzzing with activity. The hordes from earlier in the day had thinned, but a dedicated bunch clustered around the stage, while a radio blared and a cloud of smoke floated above them.
“Looks like there’s more relaxing than working going on.” Matt jerked his thumb at the group. “And those better be legal cigarettes they’re smoking.”
Wrinkling her nose, Kylie said, “Even if they’re not, you can’t exactly arrest them. You’re a
P.I., not a cop.”
Matt sucked in sharp breath. “So I am. Looks like a good opportunity to ask some questions. Can your…um…séance wait?”
“Since it’s not a séance, yeah.” She ducked under the branches into the clearing. “Let’s go talk to some roadies.”
One by one, the people on the stage turned their faces toward them as they approached. Kylie tucked her hand in the crook of Matt’s arm.
A man sitting in the middle of the group, his legs dangling over the side, raised a tattooed arm and pointed at Kylie. “Hey, you’re the one who almost got knocked out by those klieg lights.”
“That’s me.”
“Sorry ’bout that. That was Roger’s fault.” He pushed the man next to him.
Roger flicked his cigarette into the dirt at the foot of the stage. “No way, man. I secured those lights on the scaffolding. I don’t know how they came loose.”
Matt crushed the glowing cigarette butt with his boot. “We were here today to get some information about a girl who disappeared from this event three years ago. Bree Harris? Ever hear of her?”
The tattooed man nodded. “I didn’t know her name, but I was working that gig then, and we were real upset when we heard.”
“Did you hear any rumors at the time about it? Had she hooked up with someone?” Matt shoved his hands in his pockets and propped his foot on a chair.
“A lot of people hook up here.” A short man with a shaved head draped his arms around the woman next to him and she squeezed his thigh.
“They’d know better than us.” Roger jerked his thumb toward a group of men lounging on the other side of the stage drinking beers. “Those are the local boys. When this show ended, we packed up and beat it.”
“Did the Coral Cove cops ask you any questions?”
“A few, but I think they were happy to see us go.”
Matt slipped a batch of cards out of his pocket and handed them around. “I’m investigating the case for the parents. If you remember anything, give me a call.”
Matt took Kylie’s arm. “One more stop and you can get busy.”
The young men stopped laughing when Matt approached. He looked intimidating with his black leather jacket and motorcycle boots. The C.C.P.D. must’ve been happy that he’d landed on the right side of the law.
“How are you boys doing tonight?”
They mumbled their answers, and one blond with an angelic face asked, “Can we help you with something?”
Matt flicked out another card. “I’m a private investigator looking into the cold case of a missing woman. She disappeared from this concert three years ago, and her parents want some answers.”
The blond took the card and passed it to his buddies. “Yeah, I remember that.”
The young man next to him whistled. “I do, too. Her name was Bree, but she wasn’t a local. Hung out here for a few days before the concert.”
Matt swept his arm across the four of them. “Were you all working back then, too?”
Three out of the four young men, including the blond and the guy next to him with the buzz cut, said they’d worked that concert, too.
Kylie pulled a notepad out of her purse and handed it to the first guy on the left. “Would you mind writing down your names and numbers in case we want to talk to you again?”
The blond swung his legs nervously and glanced at his friend, but Buzz Cut held out his hand. “Sure. I can’t tell you anything more though. She was hanging out with some of the local girls, so you might want to talk to them.”
“We will.” As soon as we get that police report with all their names unredacted.
They handed the notepad down the line until it reached the last guy, who held up his hands. “I wasn’t even living here then.”
“That’s okay then.” Kylie took back the notebook and glanced at the names: Kenny Durrell had the buzz cut, Toby Reynolds was the blond and Rob Kauffman was the quiet one. Would they find any of these names in the police report? Would they ever get their hands on the police report?
“Thanks, guys.” Matt cupped her elbow and steered her away from the stage. “Good work, detective.”
“What, the notepad?” She smacked it against her hand. “I’m not just about channeling vibes, you know. I’ve worked pretty closely with the police. I imagine you have to do your own legwork. I don’t think cops appreciate P.I.’s much, do they?”
“Nope.” He spun her around to face him and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Where do you plan to…try to reach Bree?”
“It can be anywhere, but I need quiet.” Her gaze swept the bowl and she pointed to a spot on the edge, next to a clump of trees. “There.”
The big lights ringing the stage blinked off one by one. Knots of people drifted away, and the roadies headed back to their trailers.
Matt flicked on his flashlight. “I wonder if the locals sleep out here?”
Kylie glanced over her shoulder at the darkened stage where shadows flitted into the night. “Looks like everyone is taking off.”
When they reached the spot Kylie had picked, Matt propped his boot on a log. “Will this work?”
“Perfect.” Kylie dipped her hand into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out Bree’s scarf. The fluid material felt alive in her hands.
As she began to lower herself onto the log, Matt said, “Wait.”
He slipped out of his jacket and spread it on the log for her. “Might as well get comfortable.”
The worn leather creaked as she settled on the jacket. She stuck her legs in front of her and leaned against the tree behind the log.
Matt turned his back to her as if she were about to practice some magic and he didn’t want to learn her secrets.
She held the scarf in her hands, the silky folds cascading across her skin. She closed her eyes. Are you here, Bree?
A light breeze toyed with the ends of Kylie’s hair and the scent of fresh lemons teased her nose. Her lashes fluttered, but she couldn’t raise her eyelids. She’d lost the sense of Matt’s presence. The night closed in on her, isolating her. She was alone in the world.
No. Not quite alone.
She whispered aloud. “Bree?”
A chill crept over Kylie’s flesh. So cold. So alone.
A swirl of emotions cascaded through her body. Happiness. Confusion. Anger. Fear.
The feelings, like a wave, swept her along a zigzag course. Kylie tried to keep her head above the water. Tried to snatch onto a stationary branch as she rushed by. Tried to discern some kernel of truth amid the jumble of sensations. Tried to grab something solid.
Then the terror sliced through her. She tried to filter, but fear overwhelmed her.
Run, Bree, run.
Her feet were rooted to the ground. Her fate sealed.
Kylie reached out a hand to touch Bree. She was so close. Why couldn’t Bree just lean over and whisper in her ear? Why couldn’t she identify her killer?
Close, so close.
Kylie gasped and her lids flew open. She was here.
Bree was in Coral Cove.
Chapter Nine
Matt wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. Was Kylie awake? Out of her trance?
It had taken incredible willpower for him not to rush over to that log and shake her out of whatever weird nightmare had her in its grip. She had slumped against the tree behind her, eyes closed, lids twitching, mouth working, a cavalcade of emotions sweeping across her face.
She’d opened her eyes, but her gaze wasn’t focused—not focused on anything in this world anyway. A soft moan escaped her lips.
Matt took one step forward. “Kylie?”
Her face crumpled in what looked like pain and her eyelids fluttered.
Matt plowed forward and dropped to his knees beside her. He took both of her cold hands in his and rubbed them. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
Her green eyes wandered to his face. She blinked a few more times and the haziness cleared. The green darkened.
“Matt.” Sh
e bunched the T-shirt covering his chest in her fists. “Bree’s here.”
“Here?” He swiveled his head around, expecting to see a ghost floating out of the trees. “What do you mean, she’s here?”
She snatched one hand away from him and pressed a palm to her forehead. “I—I’m not sure. She’s here in Coral Cove. I felt her here, close by.”
Matt sucked the inside of his cheek between his teeth and measured his words before blurting them out. Hell, he didn’t know how all this worked. “Did she tell you this? Did she name her killer?”
The hand slipped and Kylie covered her eyes. “No, no. She’s not going to stand before me and talk. I just felt her near me. She’s still here in Coral Cove.”
Matt sat back on his heels. “Do you mean her body? Her body is in Coral Cove?”
“I guess so.” She clamped her hands between her bouncing knees. “She must be dead, Matt, but then we both figured that, right?”
“I think the Harrises might still be holding out hope, but yeah, I figured they were sending me on a murder investigation whether or not they wanted to admit it.”
“Her murder is tied into this concert.”
“And if a stranger killed her, some guy hitching on to this concert for an opportunity to be around a lot of free-spirited young women not taking normal precautions, we’re going to have a tough time identifying him.”
“I know.” She wound her hair into a loose bun, tying it like a knot. “But the police never even got that far. It’s as if they wanted to shove the whole incident under the carpet.”
“Of course they did. If they didn’t have any easy clues to solve the case, they’d want to get it out of the public’s consciousness as quickly as possible, especially with no body.”
“Then they could pass it off as a runaway.”
“Exactly.” Several strands of Kylie’s hair had escaped her makeshift bun, and Matt swept them off her face with his finger. “How do you feel?”
“Disappointed. I didn’t get as much information as I thought I would.” She splayed her hands in front of her. “It was all so confusing, jumbled.”
He rolled his eyes. “I meant, how do you feel physically? I can tell you, that trance stuff is no fun to watch.”
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