by Rebecca Deel
“Might be longer, depending on what we find,” Nick warned.
With a nod, he grabbed his cell phone and walk a distance away to start his phone calls.
“Rio, these guys are becoming reckless,” Ethan said, voice low. “You need to keep close tabs on Darcy.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I don’t have the manpower to put people on her 24/7.”
“I understand. Trent and Mason are at the house with her while I’m at PSI.”
“What about when she’s driving around town?” Nick murmured.
“I can’t forbid her to leave the house. She’d tear me into little strips and feed me to Alex’s dog, Spenser. The only other place I know that she’s going today is the grocery store. Darcy’s hosting a girls night at the house this evening. I also know she’ll be spending some time on her music.”
Ethan folded his arms across his chest.
If the situation weren’t so serious, Rio would laugh. The police chief had superior officer intimidation down to a science. “I’ll ask her to take Trent with her to the store.”
A nod.
Rio retrieved Darcy’s shake. Inside, he set her drink on the coffee bar. “Ask Trent to go with you on your errands today.”
She winced. “Great. He’ll love that. My brother hates going to the grocery store. It’s why his cupboards are always bare.”
“He’d rather go with you than worry about your safety, especially after this incident.”
She stared out the front windows toward her store. “You’re sure it’s not a coincidence?”
“I’m not betting your life on it.” He glanced at Del. “Why are you here so early, sugar?”
“It’s book club day. Serena should be delivering food for them in a few minutes.”
Darcy straightened. “Oh, good. I’ve been wanting to meet her. I’d love to set a time to talk to her about her business.”
“Stick around for a bit and you’ll have your chance. She usually drinks a cup of tea with me before she heads off to her first cooking job.”
Nick walked into the store, rubbing his hands. “Please tell me you have plain coffee brewed.”
Del glanced at the carafe. “You’re in luck. The coffee just finished and there’s nothing in there but plain old joe.” She poured him a mug. “Aren’t you supposed to be off shift?”
“Would have been except Rod has court this morning. Stella will be on hand soon if I need assistance. In the meantime, I appreciate the help staying awake.”
Darcy wrapped her hand around Rio’s. “Why don’t you go on to work? I’m safe. There are people everywhere. When I leave here, I’ll go straight to the house for Trent.”
“I’m not leaving you unprotected. There might be a lot of people milling around, but none of them are focused on your protection.”
“I can’t leave the area,” Nick said. “But I can stay here with Darcy if you want to run to her house and bring her brother here. I suspect he’ll want to be here to keep an eye on things and find out firsthand what happened at the store.”
“He’s right.” Darcy squeezed his hand gently. “I don’t want to interfere with your job, Rio.”
Though reluctant to trust her safety to anyone else, he recognized her need to take care of him in her own way. Her brother might not be able to run down a perp, but he didn’t have to run to pull his weapon to defend his sister. “All right. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He kissed her and forced himself to leave.
When he walked into the living room, Trent looked up from his book and frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“Darcy’s store had a gas leak.”
The Fortress operative scowled. “She okay?”
Rio nodded. “I left her with Nick in the bookstore. She needs to run errands today and I don’t want her to go by herself. You up for bodyguard duty?”
“Oh, yeah. Let me grab my coat.”
Mason walked into the room, a tape measure and clipboard in his hand. “Hey, I thought you were going to PSI this morning.”
“Gas leak at Darcy’s store. You sticking around here today?”
He nodded. “Brian wants me to measure every room in the place, so I’ll be cleaning out the last two rooms on the third floor. Do you think Darcy will mind if I go into her room to get the dimensions?”
“I doubt it, but I’ll ask her. Keep an eye on the house today, Mase.”
“The gas leak wasn’t an accident?”
“We don’t know for sure yet. Brian insists he checked the gas connections yesterday evening before he left.”
“Ready.” Trent shrugged into his coat, weapon in a holster at his side. “Watch your back, Mason.”
A wry smile curved his mouth. “I learned to do that well in prison.”
At the bookstore, Rio walked inside with Trent to see Darcy talking to Serena Blackhawk. “Serena, you look more beautiful every time I see you.”
She grinned, eyes sparkling. “That’s what my husband says, but he’s biased.”
“He’s being honest, sugar.” He introduced Trent, then asked Nick, “Any word from Ethan?”
“Gas is off as is the electricity. Windows and doors are open. The fire department says it should be safe to inspect the store in another hour.”
Rio stroked Darcy’s back. “You staying here until there’s word?”
“I want to know what happened. Besides, it will give Trent a chance to do book shopping while he’s waiting for me.”
Her folded his arms across his chest. “I’m on duty, Darce. I’m not leaving your side.”
“The bookstore isn’t open for business.” Nick drained his mug and circled to the other side of the counter. “Go explore for a few minutes. I’ll let you know when I leave.”
Trent headed for the men’s adventure section.
Rio turned back to Serena. “Where are you headed this morning?”
“Grocery store, then the Andersons. They’re having an open house and asked me to prepare the food. Susan couldn’t find a caterer with an opening for tonight.”
“The guests are in for a treat.”
“I’m hoping to pick up another client or two. One of my families moved to North Carolina.” She smiled at Darcy. “I’m looking forward to your deli opening, Darcy. We’ve been needing something quick around here that’s better quality than the gas station’s offerings. I think That’s A Wrap will be very popular.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“If you want to talk more, I’ll be happy to help. Sounds like you’re on the right track, though.”
The door to the shop opened and a gust of cold wind followed Ethan into the store. “Please tell me Del has coffee ready.”
Nick grabbed another mug and poured some for his boss. “Progress?”
“We should be clear to go inside at 9:00.” He sipped the coffee, sighed, smiled at his wife. “You made this pot, didn’t you?”
“Del’s on the phone with one of her suppliers.” She slid off the barstool and reached up to kiss Ethan. “Got to go. I have a party to cater.”
“Don’t overdo it, baby,” he murmured.
“Susan will be helping me prepare food. I have everything planned out, including rest breaks.” Another kiss, and she left.
“I need to go as well,” Rio said. “Quinn called. I have to cover the tactical class this morning while he meets with a dog trainer for search-and-rescue.” He kissed Darcy lightly and stepped back. “See you tonight, sweetheart. Save me the leftovers.”
“I heard that,” Trent called. “Sorry, dude. Nate’s cooking for you. I have dibs on Darcy’s food.”
Rio chuckled as he left. Once he worked around the emergency vehicles clogging the square, he called Zane.
“Good early morning to you, Kincaid,” his friend grumbled.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Had an op go south at one this morning. I’ve been asleep an hour.”
“Oh, man. Sorry, Z. Everybody get out in one piece?”
“Yep. What’s going on?”
Rio brought him up to date on Darcy’s troubles.
“What do you need from me?” His friend’s cold, clipped voice filled the SUV.
“See what you can find out about Charles Rockingham. He’s the original owner of Darcy’s house. There are rumors floating around that he hid a stash of Morgan silver dollars in that house. Those coins are the key to everything.”
“You think Sutton’s crew is after the coins.”
Uneasiness roiled in his gut. “I do. However, I don’t believe they came up with this scheme on their own. I think someone hired them to steal the coins.” And until they unmasked the person who hired Sutton, Darcy would never be safe.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
A few minutes after nine, Annie burst through the door of the bookstore. “What’s going on?” she asked as she unzipped her cotton-candy pink winter gear. “It’s a madhouse. I had to park three blocks away.”
“Gas leak at my store,” Darcy said.
“Oh, dear. Do you know how that happened?”
“Not yet. Ethan and Nick just left with Brian Elliott to check inside the shop.” She unwrapped one of the trays Serena had left for the book club ladies. “Del’s at the back of the store, getting ready for the reader’s group.”
“I’ll just put away my things and man the register.” She glanced to the side as Trent walked up to the counter with an armload of books. She smiled at him. “Well, you chose some excellent books, young man.”
Darcy grinned at her brother’s reddened cheeks. “Annie, this is my brother, Trent. He’s visiting for a few days.”
“Nice to meet you, Trent. Excuse me a minute while I hang up my coat.” She hurried off and returned a moment later without her heavy coat and large bag. “Are you staying for the book club meeting, Darcy? You would enjoy it.” She leaned close and whispered, “The club members are a bunch of older women who love to read murder mysteries, the more gruesome, the better.” Annie started scanning Trent’s books. “Who would think little old ladies would enjoy tracking murderers through the pages of novels? Not me, my dear. I much prefer a good romance.”
Trent flinched at that.
“Sounds like fun,” Darcy said. “I can’t today, though. I need to run errands.”
“Maybe next time, then. They meet once a month.” She took Trent’s bank card and swiped it through the card reader.
“Annie, do you know anything about the candles in Ms. Bond’s house?”
“Beautiful, aren’t they? For some reason, Gretchen began making candles a few months before she died.”
Disappointment flooded her. “That’s too bad. I was hoping to buy more candles similar to those.”
“If you want unique candles, you should talk to Kira at Kira’s Wicks. She makes most of her stock. If you turn right at Dogwood and drive about a block, you’ll see her shop on the right.” Del’s assistant gave Trent his card and handed him a large bag of books. “Enjoy them, Trent. Now, if you don’t want to keep these once you’re finished, bring them back in and swap them for some of the used stock.”
Several older women walked in the front door and straight to the back table. That was her cue to deliver the trays Serena had left. She set a wide selection of muffins in the center of the table, then returned with another filled with cut fruit. So pretty. Annie brought a platter of cookies. Trent brought up the rear with a tray of mugs, some filled with coffee, others with tea.
Returning to the front of the store, she watched Nick stride from the deli toward the bookstore. “Maybe we’ll finally hear something now.” She grasped her shake container and finished the last of her drink.
The detective blew on his hands as he approached the counter. “The gas leak was not an accident.”
Beside her, Trent stiffened. “You’re sure?”
“Positive. The gas pipe to the stove was broken and the stove itself was crooked and off balance. When Brian left yesterday it was level and straight, and the pipe is brand new.”
“Maybe he’s lying. Wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to cover shoddy workmanship.”
“Doesn’t make sense, bro.” Darcy glared at him. “Why would he intentionally mess up his own work? He showed me how the stove worked the morning before the car accident.”
“Adding work pads his bill.”
“Could have blown himself up along with his crew,” Nick said. “I can’t see him doing that.”
“Did someone break in, Nick?”
He shook his head. “No evidence to support that conclusion.”
“Was the lock picked, like at Darcy’s house?” Trent asked.
Another head shake in response.
“So it was an inside job.” Trent folded his arms across his chest. “I guess Elliott could have sabotaged the stove after all.”
“He has an alibi, St. Claire. I’ve already verified it.” He turned to Darcy. “How many people have a key to the deli?”
“I have one and so does Brian. I’m sure the landlord has one as well. Other than that, I don’t know of anyone else.”
“Who’s the landlord?” When she gave him the name, he said, “I’ll check with him, see if there are other keys floating around. In the meantime, you should have him change the locks. Might be safer for everybody.”
“Won’t make a difference if Elliott’s involved,” Trent muttered.
She leaned close to her brother. “Those coins aren’t worth as much as he’d make on his building projects.”
“And it’s too risky,” Nick added. “There’s no proof the coins still exist, either.”
“Somebody wants something from Darcy bad enough they’re willing to kill to get it, and I guarantee it’s not her Steinway.” He turned to Darcy. “You ready, sis?”
She nodded. “See you later, Nick. Keep me posted.”
“I’ll tell you what I can, Darcy.”
Trent snorted, helped her into her coat, and grabbed his bag of books. “Later, Detective.”
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she and her brother left the store. Outside, she dug out her remote and said, “Could you have antagonized him any more, Trent? He’s not just a cop to me. He’s my friend and Josh’s brother-in-law.”
Her brother pulled up short, his expression growing sheepish. “I didn’t realize he was that Nick.”
Right. Like the name Nick Santana was so commonplace. She climbed behind the wheel, maneuvered out of the square, and turned right.
“Where are we going?”
“Candle shop and your favorite place, the grocery store.”
Trent groaned and slid lower in the seat. “Great. Just what I need to make my morning complete.”
“Quit complaining. Look at it this way. You’ll get to choose your own junk food.”
Darcy turned on Dogwood and located Kira’s Wicks. “Want to stay here?”
He just stared at her. She rolled her eyes. There might be a killer in there waiting to waylay her. They exited the SUV and went into the shop.
“Oh, man.” Her brother sighed. “If I breathe wrong or turn too fast, I’ll bring the place down on my head.”
Taking pity on him, she left him standing by the entrance, found Kira and described what she was looking for. When she left the shop ten minutes later, Trent carried another bag, this one full of carefully wrapped handmade candles. Darcy couldn’t wait to see them in the hurricane lamps she’d bought from Bob Schiller.
Inside the vehicle, Trent said, his voice filled with hope, “Grocery store, then home, right?”
“That’s the plan. I want to help Mason clean out the last two rooms on the third floor. He has to measure each room today.”
By noon, they returned to the Victorian and unloaded their purchases. Trent’s limp had grown worse in the grocery aisles so she was glad to see him head for the recliner as soon as he hung up his coat. After putting the food for her dinner party in the refrigerator, she climbed to the third floor and found Mason gathering items to cart
to the Dumpster. “Not much to keep?”
“Not so far.”
“Have you eaten lunch?”
“I was going to eat after I dumped this load and washed up.”
“Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll have grilled cheese sandwiches and hot tomato soup ready for you and Trent.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ll have to come up with something else for me.” Maybe tomato soup and leftover chicken for her meal.
“Thanks, Darcy.”
After lunch, she and Mason cleared the rest of the room. Darcy stood back as he measured the empty space. She shook her head at the new holes they had uncovered in the floor and walls. More work for Mason and his fellow workmen. “Did you measure the rest of the house?”
He glanced her direction before writing down the measurements on his clipboard. “Including your room. I hope you don’t mind. Rio said he would ask.”
“He did. It’s fine, Mason.”
“While I was measuring, I noticed there’s a stone loose on your hearth. I can fix that for you. I spent a couple summers during my school years doing concrete and masonry work.”
“A loose stone?” She furrowed her brow. “Show me.”
She and Mason traipsed down to her second-floor bedroom.
“Right here.” He crossed the room and knelt in front of her hearth. The stone was at the edge, near the wall. Sure enough, when Mason touched it, the stone rocked. “It should be easy to fix.”
“Mason, you don’t think…” She stopped, not daring to put what she thought into words. Could this be Charles Rockingham’s hiding place for his money? Or was the loose stone just the product of time on crumbling mortar?
His gaze dropped to the rock. “Only one way to find out.” He grasped the rock, wiggled it back and forth, working it out of position until he grabbed hold of it and pulled it free. The rock had covered a deep cubbyhole.
Not enough light to see into the depths of the hole. “Do you have a flashlight?” she asked.
“Yep. I’ll be back.” When he returned, Mason had a large flashlight in his hand. He aimed it at the cubbyhole and clicked on the light.
Darcy peered inside. She gasped. “There’s a velvet bag at the bottom.”
“The silver dollars?”