Buried Truth

by Jannine Gallant

  “Do I look stupid?”

  She gave him a quick once-over from his cycling jersey to his bike shorts to his riding cleats. “Currently, you look like those crazy guys on the sports channel who launch their bikes off cliffs. In my opinion, none of them has a whole lot of sense.”

  “I assure you, Leah and I will stick to the trail today and not do anything irresponsible.”

  “Good to know.” She shooed him toward the door when the bell chimed from the front of the house. “Go let Leah in so I can say hello to her.”

  “Sure.” He left the kitchen and hurried toward the entry. After swinging the door wide open, his smile slowly faded. “You changed your mind about mountain biking with me?”

  Leah glanced down past a lavender top to a denim skirt that stopped just above her knees. Not that he was complaining about the view of killer legs, but—

  She held up her bulging tote bag. “I need to change. I didn’t want to wear bike shorts to the police station.”

  Relief slid through him. “How’d it go?”

  “Okay, I guess.” Her soft brown eyes darkened with worry. “They assured me they’ll do their best to track down this Woodward person. I just hope they find him before he spends all Gram’s savings.”

  “Maybe he’ll slip up now that the authorities are looking for him.” Ryan took her arm to tug her inside and shut the door. “Although you’d think other victims would have reported him already. Based on what your grandma said, he sounds too smooth to be new to this game.”

  “I know, right?” Leah frowned. “Still, Chris called shortly after I left the station to let me know Thomas Woodward isn’t in their database.”

  Ryan stopped. “Chris?”

  “Officer Long. You probably remember him from high school. His younger sister Kim was at our reunion. He’s the one I talked to this morning.”

  “Oh. I imagine Woodward is an alias, so maybe they’ll turn up a connection to similar crimes in a different town and uncover this creep’s real identity.”

  “I’ll cross my fingers, but right now, I don’t want to think about it anymore since there’s nothing I can do to fix the problem. Can I change someplace?”

  “You know where the bathroom is. When you’re ready, come find me in the kitchen. Mom wants to say hello before we leave.”

  “I’d love to see your mom.” She glanced down toward his feet. “Who’s that?”

  When Charlie rubbed against his ankles and eyed Leah warily, Ryan smiled. “Charlie.”

  “Beautiful animal. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  He waited until she disappeared down the hallway then rejoined his mother. True to her word, Leah returned a few minutes later.

  She set down her tote bag then crossed the kitchen dressed in bike shorts and a T-shirt. A helmet dangled from the fingers of one hand, and a single long braid hung down her back.

  At the table, his mom rose to her feet. “It’s good to see you, dear. Did I thank you properly for your assistance when I broke this darned arm?”

  “The snickerdoodles and lovely note you dropped off were more than enough thanks for making a simple phone call to Ryan.” Reaching his mom, Leah gave her a quick hug. “When will the doctor take off your cast?”

  “If all goes well, early in November.”

  She stepped back. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, although I’m enjoying having Ryan in town again.”

  “No reason he can’t visit often even if he doesn’t have to be here to fetch and carry for me, right Ryan?” His mom shot him a pointed look.

  “None that I can think of.” He stepped away from the counter. “But right now we’d better get moving. There’s a strong chance of rain later this afternoon, so we probably want to be back before then.”

  “My pinochle group is meeting here this evening, so feel free to take Leah out for a nice dinner after your ride.” She added a wide smile that would have made a crocodile proud. “You two have fun, now.”

  “We will.” He took Leah’s arm and steered her toward the back door into the garage.

  She glanced over her shoulder. “See you later, Mrs. A.”

  “I hope so, dear.”

  Ryan shut the door behind them. “Could my mom be any more obvious?”

  Leah glanced up. “What are you talking about?”

  “She’s probably in there planning our wedding as we speak. She’s always loved you, and the fact that I didn’t come home Friday night was the clincher in her mind.” He pressed the button to raise the garage door. “I told her we’re just friends, but she didn’t believe me.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  He gave her a sharp look, not sure how to interpret her comment. “Uh, you can ride my old bike. The frame may be a little big for you, but I lowered the seat.” Grabbing the handlebars, he wheeled it out to the driveway.

  She took it from him. “This is your old bike? It looks pretty fancy to me.”

  “Yeah, well, I went off the deep end and splurged on a new one. The shocks are such high quality, I can barely feel the bumps, and it hardly weighs anything.”

  After he returned with the second bike, she whistled. “Geez, Ryan. Does it pedal for you?”

  “Just about.”

  She straddled the first bike, then stepped off again to lower the seat an inch. “I bet that high-tech machine cost more than my car.”

  He glanced at her old silver Audi. “Probably. I tend to get a little carried away when it comes to quality sports equipment.”

  “Don’t apologize. You earned the right to have nice stuff.” She settled her helmet on her head and fastened the strap in place. “Where are we going?”

  He donned his own helmet. “I thought we’d head south. There’s a great single track that winds up into the hills about eight miles from here.”

  “I know the one you’re talking about. I used to ride out there with Brock.” She pushed off and smiled over at him. “You may have to wait for me on the downhill sections. I’m out of practice.”

  The mention of her ex sent a quick dart of pain through his chest. Thinking of Leah with another man, especially her former husband, bothered him far more than it should. He shook off the twinge of resentment and forced a smile. “Not a problem. I’m happy to wait for you.”

  When they reached the highway, they rode single file at a quick clip Leah had no problem maintaining. Ryan slowed to make the turn onto the dirt single track and waved a hand. “Why don’t you lead so you can set the pace?”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Not in the least.” A steady view of the curve of Leah’s firm behind as she leaned forward wasn’t exactly a hardship.

  She was in excellent shape . . . in every sense of the word. They rode uphill at a speed that would have challenged a few of his buddies. When the trail finally leveled off and widened, he pulled even with her and took a drink from his water bottle.

  “You ride like a pro. Want to rest for a minute?”

  She nodded and braked to a stop, then removed her water bottle from its holder. After drinking steadily for several seconds, she squirted water on her face and wiped it off with her sleeve. “Oh, wow, that was tough.”

  “You didn’t need to go so fast.”

  She shot him a quick grin. “I didn’t want you to think I’m a wimp.”

  “No danger of that. You’re an animal.”

  Her smile broadened. “A compliment sure to impress any woman.”

  His neck heated, and it wasn’t due to exertion. “I didn’t mean—”

  “Kidding, Ryan. I know what you meant. Thanks.” She tipped the water bottle back again, and her throat moved as she drank. A sheen of perspiration glistened on her chest. Finally, she stuck the bottle back in the holder. “I may not hang out in a gym, but I get a lot of exercise.”

  He adjusted his shorts. “I can tell. By the way, sweat becomes you. Just saying . . .”

  Her gaze dropped before lifting to meet his. “You try to ride like that, and you may hurt you
rself.”

  “I’ll risk it.” He rolled forward a couple of feet and reached out to place a hand behind her neck. Tugging her forward, he kissed her. “You’re extremely hot, Leah Grayson.”

  Her breath brushed his cheek as she backed up a few inches. “You’re damn sexy, too, Ryan Alexander. But, since I’m not down for a round of sex on the trail, maybe we should keep riding.”

  “Probably a good idea.” He released her slowly and moved away. “Lead on, Macduff.”

  “That’s lay on. Are we going into battle?”

  He stared at her blankly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “It’s a Shakespeare thing. A computer guy wouldn’t get it.”

  “Apparently not. You’re an odd one at times. Hot but strange. I appreciate that.”

  “Sounds about right. I’m glad my eccentricities don’t bother you.” She pushed off, pedaling hard as the trail narrowed again and climbed steadily.

  Ryan got the feeling she’d had someone particular in mind when she’d commented on her unconventionality being a turnoff. Her jerk of an ex-husband would be his guess. If that asshole had made Leah feel bad about herself—

  His tire hit a rock at the edge of the trail and jerked left. He went over with a solid thud and landed with his bike on top of him. The breath left his lungs in a whoosh.

  He gasped for air. “Shit.”

  “Are you okay?” Leah dismounted and dropped her bike to run back to him. “What happened?”

  “I wasn’t paying attention. Really, really stupid.” When she lifted his bike, he twisted the shoe still locked onto the pedal to release it, and sat up.

  “Did you hurt yourself?” Her wide eyes were filled with concern. “Should you move?”

  “Nothing’s injured but my pride . . . and possibly a bruise on my hip.” He rubbed the tender spot as he scrambled to his feet. “I’m not usually such a klutz.”

  Apparently convinced nothing was broken, she eyed him up and down and smiled. “You did look pretty funny lying in a heap, and you’re covered in dirt.”

  He brushed ineffectually at the sleeve of his jersey. “Great.”

  “Turn around and let me.”

  He did as she asked then glanced at her over one shoulder. “Why do I feel like one of your students who had an accident on the playground?”

  Her smile melted his heart as she slapped dirt off his ass.

  “Believe me, I don’t pat down my kids.” Her fingers lingered. “Nothing but solid muscle. This is kind of fun.”

  “Happy to brighten your day.”

  She went to work on his back, bending down to brush off his legs. The feel of her fingers on his thighs made any bruises worthwhile.

  “There, that’s as good as it’s going to get.”

  He turned and pulled her into his arms. “If it got any better, you’d wind up just as dirty as I am.” Tipping back her head to avoid bumping helmets, he kissed her . . . and kept kissing her until he was forced to come up for air. “Thanks.”

  “Glad to oblige.” She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Is it just me, or does this feel exactly like it used to between us? Friends first and lovers second.”

  His hold on her tightened. “Is there anything wrong with that?”

  “No. The friendship was missing in my marriage, and you know how that ended. What we have is better.”

  “I hope so.” He kissed her again, but the knowledge that their previous relationship had self-destructed niggled at the back of his mind. Best not to worry about the future and simply enjoy the present. He brushed a thumb across her cheek. “Let’s finish this. We’re almost to the top.”

  She nodded. “Nothing I like more than to accomplish the goals I set.” Her serious gaze met his before she turned away to pick up her bike.

  Am I one of her goals?

  Did he want to be? He’d originally hoped to keep their relationship simple but feared they’d passed that point some distance back. For them, maybe uncomplicated had never been an option. A whole lot of heartache might be waiting at the end of the path they were on, but he’d stay the course. Because he couldn’t imagine walking away from Leah. Not yet.

  Maybe never.

  Chapter Eleven

  Leah parked beneath the carport awning and glanced in the rearview mirror as Ryan pulled into the driveway behind her. Rain came down in a steady torrent, pinging like shrapnel off the metal roof. At least the sheet of plastic he’d taped across the broken window kept his upholstery from getting soaked. They’d stopped at his mom’s house first so he could shower and change, and then had picked up groceries on the way home. After an exhausting bike ride, neither of them had felt like eating out, but she hadn’t been ready to end the evening, either.

  Even if Ryan had been unusually quiet for most of the afternoon.

  She stepped out of the car, grabbed her tote bag from the passenger seat, and slammed the door, wondering what was on his mind. A frown formed when Barney didn’t run out to greet her.

  “That’s weird.”

  “What’s weird?” Dampness and gloom closed in around them as Ryan locked his Jeep with the remote then hurried to get undercover, carrying the sack of groceries.

  “Barney. Usually he would have tried to flatten you against your front bumper by now.”

  “Maybe he went down to the beach.”

  “That’s a possibility, but he’s not a big fan of rain. Thank heavens we made it back to your house before this started.” She led the way to the back door, pushed it open, then flipped on the light. Her jaw sagged as she stared in horror at the kitchen. She loosened her grip on her bag, and it fell to the floor with a thump. “Oh, my God!”

  Ryan peered over her shoulder. “You’re not the tidiest person I know, but even for you . . .” He dropped a hand to her shoulder as she let out a ragged breath. “Someone else did this?”

  She nodded. Mail that had been stacked on the end of the counter littered the floor. A basket of odds and ends that usually sat on a bench in the corner had been dumped out on the table. Cupboard doors were open, and the pantry was a jumbled mess with a couple of broken jars of home-canned tomatoes smashed on the floor. Jackets from the pegboard beside the door were in a heap on the tile, a few pockets turned inside out.

  “Why?” Her voice broke. Advancing into the room, she stiffened when frantic yelps and scratching echoed from the rear of the house. “Barney!”

  She ran through the kitchen, avoiding the tomatoes, and dashed into the living room to flip on a light. Couch cushions were upended, and books had been swept off the shelves. The doors to the cabinet below the TV were open, and CDs and old VHS tapes were scattered out onto the rug. Ignoring the mess, she followed the weak barks. Nails scraped wood again as Barney hit the bathroom door. She jerked it open, and her quivering dog knocked her back against the wall, whining as he licked her neck and face. Leah held on tight and forced herself to breathe.

  “He looks okay, just scared.”

  Tears slid down her cheeks as she glanced over at Ryan. “Thank God. He sounds like he’s been barking for a long time.”

  “Whoever did this must have locked him in there while they ransacked the place. I wonder what they took. The TV and your laptop were both still in the living room, so it wasn’t electronics they wanted.”

  After a final hug, Leah pushed Barney off her and ran up the stairs. Taking a deep breath, she flipped on the light in her bedroom, then let out a moan. Every dresser drawer had been emptied and the bedding tossed. With her dog pressed against her legs, she moved through the mess to the small walk-in closet. Not a single hanger or item of clothing had escaped and lay in a heap on the carpet.

  “Your jewelry box is open.” Ryan’s voice, calm and matter-of-fact, steadied her nerves. “Come see what’s missing before we call the police.”

  Turning away from the closet, she wiped the tears off her cheeks and complied. “I don’t have anything really valuable.” She tried to focus. “This is a genuine rub
y, my birthstone.” She touched the small gem on the necklace her parents had given her for her sixteenth birthday. “My pearl earrings are still in there, and a gold bracelet. I don’t think anything’s missing.”

  Ryan slid one arm around her and reached for a heart-shaped silver pendant. “I gave you this.” He glanced down at her. “You kept it?”

  She nodded. “You fastened it around my neck after we, uh, slept together on the beach. I stopped wearing it when we broke up, but I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away.”

  His hold on her tightened. “We’d better check the other rooms.”

  “I suppose so.”

  Her bathroom was a disaster, but not much damage had been done in the spare bedrooms. She finished the inspection tour and headed back downstairs, straight to the landline phone sitting on the end table. “I need to call the police.”

  “You’re sure nothing’s missing?”

  Leah slumped onto the couch, thankful for Ryan’s presence as he moved in behind her and threaded fingers through her hair to knead the tense muscles at the back of her neck. “I honestly can’t think of anything. I have no idea what this person was looking for.”

  “Maybe the cops will find prints.” He paused his massage. “Go ahead and make the call. We should report the break-in.”

  Over an hour later, Leah thanked the officer who’d responded to her nine-one-one call and was about to shut the back door when headlights flashed on the puddles in the driveway.

  “I wonder who that is.”

  “I’ll go see.” Ryan dropped a hand on her shoulder as he passed. “Go sit down. You look wiped out.”

  “I am. Thanks.” She turned around to stare at the disaster area that used to be her kitchen and let out a sigh. No way could she rest until she’d made at least some effort to clean up the mess. She’d lost her appetite, but Ryan probably still wanted dinner, and she hadn’t even put away the groceries they’d bought not two hours before. It seemed like an eternity. Glancing down at her sweaty jersey and bike shorts, she grimaced. A shower was in order, but that would require clearing away all the supplies dumped out of bathroom cabinets. The dirt coating her skin from their ride would have to stay for a while longer.