28 Days: a romantic suspense

by Lexi Buchanan

  “Whatever you do,” Tamsyn started, “just be careful.” Her friend wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I know I haven’t been around these past couple of days for you, but if you need me, you call, okay? Don’t do this alone.”

  “I’m not alone,” Saige blurted out before she could stop herself. She winced as Tamsyn’s attention focused on her completely.

  She’d planned on keeping Alex to herself for now because she knew others would warn her about helping him. After all, he was Quinten’s brother. They didn’t look like brothers though. He was broader in the shoulders than Quinten had looked on the TV, and Alex’s light hair was a stark contrast to Quinten’s deep red.

  “I’m waiting for you to explain.” Tamsyn moved away and slipped her feet into her shoes. “I need to go so be quick. Who’s helping you?”

  “Alex Peterson came looking for me.”

  She frowned. “Should I know who that is?”

  “He’s Quinten Peterson’s brother. We talked last night over coffee.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow...that’s, um, strange.” She picked up her purse and shoved the strap over her shoulder. “Why would he come looking for you?”

  “He thinks I lied.” Saige turned to look out of the apartment window to the city below that gradually started to wake for the day. “Apparently,” she whispered, “I gave a statement, which implicated his brother.” Tamsyn moved to stand beside her, so Saige continued, “I also selected his brother from a lineup of photographs. I don’t remember any of that, Tamsyn.” She shut her eyes at the revelation. If she’d done that, what was the reason why? Was it that he was guilty or had she lied and forgotten?

  Guilt filled her as she continued, “So today, Alex is meeting me at his brother’s defense attorney’s office. I figure it’s the quickest way to get the information I need. My father isn’t going to be forthcoming and I just need to know.”

  “Oh, honey.” Tamsyn pulled her close before letting her go. “Try not to be too disappointed if everything turns out to be true.” She paused and looked hesitantly toward the door, as though she was debating calling in sick. “I don’t want to leave. If you’re not going in, then I really need to be on time.”

  Saige smiled and tried to make it reach her eyes. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Tamsyn stared at her for another minute before she must have decided everything really was okay because she turned, waved, and disappeared out the door.

  Saige stared at where Tamsyn had stood. Wrapping her arms around herself, she was more nervous than she wanted to admit about what secrets the day would unveil.

  * * *

  5:50am

  * * *

  Detective Coulter Robinson pulled his truck in beside the medical examiner’s van. He hoped to beat Amber McGregor, ME, to the scene of the crime but as usual, she was on the ball. Half the time he wondered if she ever slept.

  Teenagers had been camping close to the river when they woke early and discovered human bones—a leg and a foot.

  He hated cases when the body had been there for years, which was the length of time Amber had estimated. The chances of any evidence being found were practically next to none. The area he’d been directed to was popular with the locals and tourists alike.

  Clearing his head, he climbed out of his truck and opened the back to grab his hiking boots. He quickly made the change, locked his truck and followed one of Amber’s assistants through the foliage.

  His tall frame meant twigs constantly scraped against the top of his head, leaving the odd leaf in his unruly hair.

  Annoying things.

  “About time you got here, Detective,” Amber commented.

  Although he ignored her comment, he hadn’t missed the quick once over that she’d given him before she’d blushed and turned back to the newly discovered remains.

  “What do you know, Amber?”

  “Without having her in the morgue, I’m not sure how long, but I’m guessing somewhere between seven to ten years.”

  Her?

  Coulter raised his brow at that.

  “The size of the bones indicates that she was female. Plus, these were found on the remains.” Amber held out three evidence bags. “I removed these because they’d have fallen off when we started to remove the bones.”

  He took the bags and spread them out on one side of the black sheet that Amber’s assistant had laid out. The first bag he concentrated on held a woman’s ring—silver with a small sapphire surrounded by either cubic zirconia or the real thing. Bag two held another ring, a small gold wedding band that he was sure could have only fitted a woman’s delicate fingers. It was bag three that made him pause and his stomach churn. The dirty silver bangle with charms hanging off caused a memory to flash in front of his eyes. A woman he’d questioned a few times. She’d had a bangle just like the one he now looked at. She would talk with her hands and the damn thing had jangled, annoying the hell out of him.

  It had been one of those cases that had plagued his thoughts for a long time afterwards. Something had been off, but he’d never been able to put his finger on what felt wrong.

  In his twenty-eight years as a cop, he never had a case like it, where everything was all neat and tidy—too tidy.

  “What do you see?” Amber crouched beside him.

  He met her frown with one of his own, and tried not to let the young woman see that she got to him. Not in an irritable way, but in a way that made him uncomfortable in his clothing.

  Coulter cleared his throat. “I recognize the bangle…or I remember a woman wearing an identical one. The charms I remember are the cowboy boot, the cupid’s arrow, the diamond, and the skull and cross bone. I’m thinking it’s too coincidental for someone to have those exact charms, don’t you think?”

  “Hmm. It’s possible, unless it’s a pre-set design?” She shrugged. “But I’d love a place to start with identifying her. Save me time if you’re right.”

  He nodded and looked back at the bangle. “Pull whatever records you can find for Jocelyn Peterson.”

  Because he watched her closely, he didn’t miss the surprise that crossed her face. “Quinten Peterson’s ex-wife?” She shook her head. “There was an extended news report late last night about the trial, that it’s coming to an end.”

  “Hmm.” Coulter straightened to his full height and stretched out the kinks forming in his back.

  “What does, ‘Hmm’, mean?” Amber straightened next to him, a bit too close for comfort.

  He moved away to give himself space to think because having Amber so damn close caused a lack of concentration. He shook his head and met her beautiful green eyes. “If that is Jocelyn Peterson, then I have no idea where to start. Her ex, who hated her and yes, the feeling was mutual, was already in his new home.”

  He ran his hand over his head and down his weary face. “She was certainly alive for a while after the trial ended because she divorced Quinten shortly after it.”

  “You really think that’s her?” Amber questioned, and stared at the remains neatly uncovered in the earth.

  “It’s a guess at this point.” Coulter glanced at the evidence bag. “I know she wore one of those because I felt like snatching it off her wrist once or twice.”

  Amber snickered. “Only once or twice?”

  He shook his head. “You have no idea.”

  “Okay, then.” Amber cleared her throat. “Let me and Claire finish off here and if we find anything else, I’ll call you.”

  “Why would the killer leave her jewelry on her?” he queried to himself, but smiled when Amber took him up on the question.

  “Perhaps he wanted her to be found. I also think that he wanted her to be found now, as opposed to years ago or even last week.”

  His brows furrowed, and then his eyes widened and his gaze sharpened on the burial site.

  He knew the answer but he was still going to ask the question. “She’d been partially unburied when the teenagers found her?”

  “Yes. I a
sked them if they’d moved anything and they were adamant that they hadn’t. They called 911 as soon as they realized what they’d stumbled upon…but, look here.” Amber crouched to where the bones of the victim’s feet were visible and Coulter followed her. “See this? Neither my crew nor I dug around the feet. The boys swore they didn’t touch anything, so maybe the killer came back and decided to unveil her. Either he planned on digging her up and moving her or he wanted her to be found, now.”

  Coulter straightened, continuing to stare at Amber. “You think the timing has everything to do with Quinten Peterson. That’s where you’re going, right?”

  “If she’s Jocelyn Peterson, then yes, I do.”

  “Shit,” he cursed under his breath.

  “My thoughts exactly, Detective.”

  * * *

  11:00am

  * * *

  Well, this meeting was going well.

  Whatever high hopes Alex had for the meeting with Daniel Sterling had crumbled within ten minutes of them arriving. Daniel had an excellent court record and even with all the evidence toward Quinten, Daniel hadn’t stopped appealing. He fought every step with Quinten and that was why it was so confusing, and annoying, that his brother’s only line of defense was being a total dick toward Saige.

  Quinten hadn’t been the only victim in all of this, which was something Alex had begun to realize last night after he walked Saige back to her building.

  If she genuinely didn’t remember anything, then he wanted to know more about her statement and, subsequently, the lineup of photographs she’d been given.

  Up until now, Alex hadn’t had a problem with Daniel. He’d paid the man enough money over the years to file all the appeals, because Daniel sure as hell hadn’t done it out of the goodness of his heart.

  But now, Daniel was acting out of character and was being extremely evasive.

  “Enough,” Alex finally shouted, slamming his fist down onto the desk. “We are here to try and save my brother. You”—he pointed to Daniel—“have been paid by me to do just that…save Quinten. After talking to Saige, I want her to read the statement she gave. I also want her to look at the signature on it to see if it’s hers. A lot of things have never added up, and that is one of them. So, instead of wasting time, I suggest you dig into your boxes of files and let her read the damn statement.”

  Once he finished, Alex moved away to the window to calm his temper, which constantly ate at him. It was always there…whispering to him about how unfair every damn thing in his life was. But he needed action and he needed it now.

  Saige cleared her throat. “I’m, um, ready when you are.”

  “Perhaps we did get off to a wrong start, Ms. Lockwood.” Daniel held his hand out.

  “You think.” Alex needed to hold his tongue now that he had the attorney moving along.

  “Please call me Saige, and I’m here to read my statement, but I’d also like you to tell me what you remember from the case—the trial.”

  Daniel deflated before their eyes. “The trial was exhausting and, for what it’s worth, I never believed that young man was guilty. I still don’t. To begin with, Quinten constantly asked about you and he wouldn’t settle. No one would tell him anything because they thought he was responsible for what happened to you.”

  Alex watched as Saige took in what the defense attorney said, but the more he spoke, the deeper her frown became. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head because Alex had only told her about them working for her father. She still had no idea about what she became to Quinten, or him to her...at least he didn’t think she did. He was more or less convinced about her lack of memory; after all, he overheard her conversation with her father before she even saw him.

  “He was a very distraught young man,” Daniel continued. “I was there when he was charged with five counts of first degree murder and your attempted murder. He was in shock and couldn’t believe what was happening to him...then word came that you had identified him as your abductor from a lineup of photographs. I think”—Daniel paused and gave Saige a searching look—“he gave up at that point.”

  Saige wiped her eyes and Alex passed her a tissue. “I don’t understand.” She looked to him.

  Alex moved to the seat beside her. He hesitated before he took her hands into his and closed his eyes. “My brother cared about you. A lot.” He opened his eyes and they met hers before he squeezed her fingers, letting go. “The rest I need you to remember on your own.”

  “No.” She grabbed his wrist. “Please tell me.”

  “Dammit. I can’t. I need you to remember without me putting words into your head. Don’t you see? If you get your memory back, then I want it to be your memory, not something I’ve put there.”

  Saige searched his face, but Alex made sure he didn’t give anything away. Eventually Saige nodded. “I understand.” She sat back and let the silence settle. “Mr. Sterling, would it be possible to get a copy of my statement so that I can take it with me, and I noticed some photographs? If you have any of Quinten around the time he was charged, I’d appreciate a copy.”

  Daniel looked at Alex for approval. Alex nodded softly. Daniel then made a sound of acceptance. “Let me pass this file to my secretary. I won’t be long…and it’s Daniel.”

  They watched Daniel leave when Saige turned to him. “Will you tell me more about your brother? Not the trial, about what he was like. What did he like to do in his free time?”

  He could do that. “Quinten is younger than me by two years, but he always acted like the one in charge.” A wisp of a smile adorned his face as he remembered. “We would have some arguments over the business, but the truth is, Quinten was the business minded one. I’d have screwed it all up. As to free time, he didn’t have that much, but when he did, he’d go fishing or read. He could spend all day by the river with a book. He loved suspense and I even teased him a few times because he read historical romances.” Alex smiled, having forgotten that memory until now. “My brother was a caring guy who should have never married that unfaithful bitch Jocelyn.”

  Saige rubbed her brow.

  A headache?

  “When did their marriage end?” She rubbed at her forehead again.

  “He talked to a lawyer about getting a divorce a week or so before we started working at your family home. He was saving money to actually proceed with it when his life was turned upside down, so she was the one to eventually divorce him. Good riddance, if you ask me.”

  The minute the words left his mouth he realized what he admitted to, and if Saige thought she had something going on with his brother, then that probably wouldn’t sit well with her.

  “Okay,” she whispered. “You know what I’m imagining, right?”

  “I know.” He turned toward the door so he wouldn’t give anything away. “Let’s go and see what Daniel’s up to.” Alex offered his hand, which she took but let go of the minute she was on her feet.

  “Let me look through everything and I’ll call you, but it will probably be tomorrow now as my head has started to pound. I won’t be able to read anything until the pain has disappeared.”

  Alex hesitated because he wanted to be with her when she read the words she supposedly gave that implicated his brother.

  “Or not.” Saige looked uncertain. “You don’t believe me? About remembering.”

  “I overheard you talking to your father, but I won’t deny wanting to be with you while you read your statement.”

  She nodded and wouldn’t meet his gaze. “If you want, you can bring breakfast tomorrow and the copies that Daniel is making now.” She shrugged and winced, her face paling. “At least then you’ll know I’m not reading them without you.”

  She really wasn’t well and he realized that she’d made a big concession in trusting him. A part of him couldn’t help wonder why. “Don’t you fear for your own safety?”

  “What?” she asked, surprise filling her eyes.

  “You’ve been abducted before, yet you have no
concern for your safety by inviting me back to your place.”

  She opened and closed her mouth before her lips pulled tight in anger. “As you put it like that, then I suppose I’ll have to call you instead.”

  Saige gripped her purse and when her hand touched the doorknob, Alex pressed his hand to the door. Once she calmed, and didn’t look to be about to leave, he stepped away from her.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pointed that out.”

  “It’s the truth,” she said to the door, her voice tight with anger.

  “Saige, please look at me.”

  She turned.

  “I was being a dick. I really am sorry, and I promise you’ll be safe with me.”

  “Sometimes you look as though you hate me and I guess knowing that you believe my statement incriminated your brother, I can understand that.”

  “I won’t hurt you,” he said as softly as he could manage.

  She raised her gaze to his.

  “You’re probably the only one who can help at this stage. You’re all he has and I promise I won’t hurt you...you need to go and rest right now. Sleep the migraine away.” He offered her a wry grin.

  She nodded and then winced as they exited Daniel’s office.

  Alex’s attention was diverted when he noticed the man’s secretary, Fern, bent over her desk.

  He smirked and licked his lips.

  Saige caught him and rolled her eyes.

  He laughed, motioning for Saige to follow him out, but his eyes strayed back to the legs on display in Daniel’s office.

  Day 5

  8:00am

  * * *

  Quinten stared at the blank pieces of paper that sat in front of him, at a loss as to what to write.

  Saige hadn’t once visited him since he’d been arrested, charged, then incarcerated, so why would she come now?