“Oh, can’t I? For starters, you’re going to tell me where you got the key to Jake’s apartment.”
Alexis dropped the key to the floor. “There. You can have it.”
“Where did you get it, Alexis?”
“I borrowed it from Roy.”
“Borrowed it?” Kate wasn’t about to let her off the hook. “When?”
“It was on his desk. I met him in his office just before I came here. I told you I was eager to get the insurance claim started, and Roy,” she shrugged, “was agreeable. When he went to get a file, I sort of…borrowed the key.”
Chapter Eleven
The first thing Jake noticed when he unlocked the gate to his apartment was the wet footsteps that came out of the bathroom, went to the kitchen and then returned down the hallway to the bathroom. There was the sound of his shower going. He checked his watch. Surely Kate hadn’t been in the shower the whole time. Obviously not, he thought, remembering the footprints. She’d gotten out to get something to eat? In the middle of a shower? Well, if she was hungry she was feeling better, and food of any description was an excellent, idea. Maybe it would keep his mind off Kate in the shower. He was all too susceptible to imagining how she would look, sleek and wet.
The first thing Jake noticed when he unlocked the gate to his apartment was the wet footsteps that came out of the bathroom, went to the kitchen and then returned down the hallway to the bathroom. There was the sound of his shower going. He checked his watch. Surely Kate hadn’t been in the shower the whole time. Obviously not, he thought, remembering the footprints. She’d gotten out to get something to eat? In the middle of a shower? Well, if she was hungry she was feeling better, and food of any description was an excellent, idea. Maybe it would keep his mind off Kate in the shower. He was all too susceptible to imagining how she would look, sleek and wet.
He bent to pet Familiar and moved on to rummage in the refrigerator, selecting cheese and some crackers. He was ravenous, but he took time to cut slivers of cheese for the cat. Ouzo had taken off from the fire scene, and though Jake had combed the town, the dog had disappeared. “I’m too tired to chase him. If he gets caught doing something illegal, he’ll have to pay the consequences. I’ve decided to initiate a program of tough love where that dog is concerned.”
“Meow,” Familiar replied, in perfect agreement, Jake thought.
Putting the plate in the sink, he felt it slip from his fingers and clatter. “Clumsy me,” he said to the cat. He was so tired he felt punch-drunk. And he had the additional worry of what he’d discovered at the Golden Nugget.
The sound of the shower changed, and Jake imagined Kate stepping back from the spray to soap herself. It was a picture that made him groan. Maybe a drink would help keep his mind off subjects it had no right to roam to.
He leaned down into the refrigerator in search of a beer. When he looked up, he was facing the bore of a deadly-looking pistol.
“Jake!” Kate lowered the gun slowly. “You scared the life out of me.”
Jake’s hand went to his heart. “You haven’t done much for my ticker, either.” He pointed to the gun, doing his best to ignore the all-too-obvious fact that she was naked and dripping on his kitchen floor. Little drops of water sliding down her skin, all over.
He had a lot of memories of Kate, but none were nearly as impressive as her in the flesh. He cleared his throat. “Do you always shower packing heat?”
Kate lowered the gun. “Only when your ex-girlfriends break in on me.”
Jake didn’t really register the answer. He was far too busy taking in Kate in her entirety. Parts of her had rounded, growing into the lush curves that had only been hinted at when she was a teenager. Where once she had been a young girl, now she was all woman.
“Kate,” he said, finally looking up at her. He still held the beer in his hand. The refrigerator door remained open and neither of them moved.
“Your floor,” she finally said, stepping out of the puddle that had accumulated around her feet. She felt incredibly awkward. She’d come out of the shower at the sound of someone in the house. She hadn’t even bothered to think about clothing. Her only concern was the gun and to get the intruder before he got her first She put the gun down on the counter. “I feel like such a fool.”
“I don’t care about the floor.” Jake reached out and lightly caught her wrist. “Don’t go,” he said.
“I should go and get dressed.” But she didn’t move. She knew what would happen if she didn’t, and she also knew she was tired of running away from it. She wanted Jake. There had never been a time when she didn’t—even those long years when she wouldn’t admit to it Now, she could see that he wanted her, too.
As if he read her mind, Jake closed the distance between them. His hand slid over her shoulder, the water still warm on her skin. Her hair was like wet silk teasing him as it brushed across the top of his fingers, a whisper of the promise of pleasure she held for him. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered.
Kate expected to feel the old fear pushing up in her, the need to run, to flee before she found herself in a place where she could be hurt. Instead, her body melded to his. “I didn’t intend for this to happen.” And she hadn’t Not consciously, at least.
“I did.” His arms encircled her and drew her closer. The water from her skin was absorbed into his clothes, damp and cool. But Kate’s warmth was far more penetrating.
“The shower’s still going,” she whispered.
“Good,” he said. Together they began to walk to the bathroom. Jake’s fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. When it was undone, he left it on the hallway floor. As they stepped into the bathroom, he walked out of his pants. In a moment he was as naked as she. Pushing back the shower curtain, he stepped under the water. He held her hand and drew her in beside him.
In the steamy warmth of the shower, Kate let go of the last vestiges of restraint. Jake was everything she’d ever wanted, though she’d never fought so hard against anything else. She reached up to him, kissing his chest and neck and face, working slowly to his lips. She felt his arms around her and knew at last that if there was such a thing as coming home, she’d finally found her way.
The water was hot and fast, and Jake found it an arousing contrast to Kate’s smooth, soft warmth. Her breasts slid against his chest, and he could feel the sudden hardening of her nipples. He looked into her eyes and felt as if he’d jumped from a cliff. It occurred to him in the moment that he bent to kiss her that perhaps she was right. Perhaps the past did not matter a whit. Nor the future. If only the moment mattered, then Jake was truly in paradise.
HAND IN HAND, Jake and Kate walked the main street of Silver City waiting for dawn to brighten the horizon. For Kate, the town was brand-new and alive with an energy she’d never seen before. Jake’s hand in hers was a connection she wanted to cling to, though she held him lightly.
Their lovemaking had unlocked her emotions, and she realized that for too many years, she’d held herself in reserve with such discipline that now, it was as if the doors of a prison had been opened. Freedom, though exhilarating, was also terrifying.
Still, she could not escape the memory of Jake’s kisses, the slow, lingering way he touched her. They had moved from the shower to the bed, and though both were exhausted by the events of the night, they’d found new energy, new ways to touch and express what they felt for each other. Layered beneath the moment of magic was the past, the long-ago days when they had learned from each other what it meant to make love.
Holding Jake’s hand, Kate found the strength to acknowledge, at least to herself, what the past twenty-four hours had brought her—the good and the bad.
The destruction of the old opera house was a wound in her heart. The loss of Kitty’s portrait, now ground into the embers and the water, was the symbol of all that she’d either walked away from or lost. Things she’d run away from because they were too painful to confront. She knew Jake was right, that she’
d eventually have to face those things. But they were too fresh and painful to speak of, even to Jake. All she knew was that while he held her, while he kissed her and whispered of the past, she was strong enough to face it.
“I have a pretty good idea where that black rascal has gone,” Jake said.
Ouzo had failed to return to the firehouse—not a surprise to Jake or Kate. But instead of sleepy, their love-making had left them unable to sleep. It was as if they didn’t want to lose each other even for a few hours of rest. They’d decided to hunt for the dog.
“We’ll find him.” She listened for the tiny clink of the dog’s tags as they rounded the corner by Susan Tanner’s. Even though she searched for the dog, she was still half in the past. Dawn was breaking, and everywhere she looked, she remembered something of her childhood. As a young girl she’d walked this same route from school, going to the old opera house.
“Listen,” Jake whispered, squeezing her hand. “I think I hear him.”
There was the tinkle of aluminum tags, and Kate felt her body tense in preparation. If they could only catch Ouzo before he got into serious trouble, they could go back and sleep. Even an hour or two would be better than nothing.
Sleeping in Jake’s arms was something she wanted to experience. In their youth, they’d never had the luxury of truly spending the night together.
“Ouzo,” Jake whispered.
There was the sound of a low growl.
“Cat,” Kate interpreted. She’d learned a lot from Familiar in the past few days.
“That dog,” Jake said with exasperation. They’d just drawn parallel with Susan Tanner’s house. Two black cats perched on the steps and another white one sat on the sidewalk. There was no sign of the dog.
The house was dark as pitch, and Kate silently hoped that Susan was a sound sleeper.
“Ouzo!” Jake called, a little louder.
The front porch lights came on, and Jake cursed softly under his breath. “We’re caught now.”
“Indeed,” Kate answered before the door opened and the petite woman stepped out onto the stoop.
“Looking for your dog?” she asked in a pleasant voice.
“I apologize, Mrs. Tanner.” Jake began. “He slipped out. There was a fire—Whatever damage he’s caused, I’ll pay for it.”
“I was sorry to hear the Golden Nugget burned, yes, I know.” She came out onto the steps, her yellow chenille robe flowing about her petite figure. “I have your dog.”
Instead of anger, Kate heard a certain fondness. She felt Jake tense.
“Whatever he’s done, I’ll make it up to you. I know he’s a terrible pest, but you see, I’m quite attached to him.”
“No need to explain.” She motioned them into her yard. “I caught him when Billy Boy cornered him in the yard. My first thought was to call the dogcatcher and have him hauled off to the pound. You know he’s been a terrible nuisance to the cats.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry. I promise you that I’ll keep him on a leash or contained in some fashion. He’s a dog with a long past and—”
“Oh, quit trying to explain him.” She motioned them up the steps. “In fact, we’ve had quite an evening together, and I’ve become fond of the black rascal.”
Kate stopped in her tracks. She exchanged a glance with Jake. “You’re fond of Ouzo?” She must have misunderstood the woman.
“Well, you see, once Billy Boy turned on him and decided to take a stand, it was all over. The dog came running to the door, begging to get inside to escape the cat When Billy Boy and I realized he was such a coward, there was no reason to fear him. I let him inside and discovered that he has a charming array of tricks. He’s a very smart dog.”
“Tricks?” Jake looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“Of course. I’m sure you taught them to him.”
“What tricks?” Jake was confused and didn’t hide it well.
“Oh, don’t be so modest. The dog is a master of imitation. He can do any of the television commercials featuring animals. I really think, Chief Johnson, that you should take him to Hollywood.”
“Hollywood?” Jake was in a daze.
“Absolutely. Why, we’ve been up for several hours channel surfing for commercials that feature animals so he can imitate them. The dog is a genius.”
Kate was about to laugh out loud. Jake looked exactly like a parent who’d been told his wayward child was a prodigy. “Where is Ouzo?” she asked.
“Why he’s in the kitchen eating. He seems to favor spicy food, doesn’t he?”
Jake groaned. “Not jalapeños,” he said.
“Oh, he adores them. And those little green chili peppers. I do believe the dog has some Mexican blood, though he sniffed out a book of Yeats’s poems and seemed absorbed by them.” She chuckled at the absurdity of a dog reading poems. “You’ve done a remarkable job with him, Chief Johnson. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was reading that poetry.”
“I doubt that,” Jake said under his breath.
“What kind of dog is he? Ouzo is Greek, but he doesn’t look like any Greek breed of dog I’ve ever heard of.”
“He’s—”
“Black Irish,” Kate supplied. “That’s why he’s fond of Yeats. And James Joyce. Why, that dog is a fool for Ulysses.”
“How fascinating. You know I used to teach high school literature. It’s a shame to say it but that dog is smarter than many of my students.” Susan Tanner was beaming.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Jake replied.
“Shut up,” Kate whispered under her breath.
Susan sighed. “Now, I suppose it’s time to take him home.”
“I can only thank you for looking out for him,” Jake said. Together he and Kate walked to the door. Behind the screen door, Ouzo wagged his plumed black tail.
“Any time. He’s a charming dog,” Susan answered. “By the way, do you have any leads on who burned the Golden Nugget?”
“None,” Jake said as he readied the leash for Ouzo.
“You’ll catch them, I’m sure. If you get too stumped, put the dog on it. I’m sure he’ll turn something up.” She held open the screen and Ouzo ran to Jake, licking him and barking as if he’d been separated from his master for months.
“Thanks,” Jake said.
“Any time.” Susan closed the door and Jake and Kate remained staring at each other.
“Ulysses?” Jake asked.
“I was at a loss for an Irish book. It was the first thing that came to mind.”
“I never understood that book.”
Kate grinned. “As the lady pointed out, Ouzo is a very smart dog.”
“Ouch,” Jake grinned in return. “You know how to pierce a man’s ego.” He turned to the dog. “You, sir, are in a heap of trouble. I’m not sure what punishment I’ll mete out, but you can’t continue to escape and run rampant over town. One day you’re going to get hurt.”
“Arf.” Ouzo wagged his tail for emphasis. In his golden-brown eyes there wasn’t a shred of remorse.
KATE SNUGGLED back into the pillow and sipped the coffee Jake had made. Though they’d only had two hours of sleep, both were wide-awake.
“You haven’t a clue about the man who struck you?” Jake pressed.
Kate shook her head. It was a point Jake had not been able to turn loose. Kate had told him again and again the details she remembered. Except for the missing equipment and the knot on her head, she might have believed she’d made the incident up. It was almost impossible to believe someone had actually tried to kill her—had left her alive in a burning building.
“He was my size?”
“Yes. Or it seemed that way. The smoke and the heat…My vision was blurry.” No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember a truly clear image. “I’m sorry.”
Jake leaned over to kiss her forehead. “So tell me everything Alexis said.” He pulled her close against him. “If I could work every case this way…” He kissed her forehead.
“Why would she have been dumb enough to tell you that?” he mused aloud.
“She was nuts to come in here like she did. I might have shot her, but she’s smart enough to know that I would have found out about the insurance, eventually. Something like that is a smoking gun. At least by telling me it looks more aboveboard.”
“True. I’ve got—”
The ringing of the telephone interrupted him. He put down his coffee and picked up the receiver by the bed. It was not yet eight o’clock.
“Chief Johnson here.”
“This is Chip, at the lab in Denver. We’ve got some reports ready for you.”
Jake gave Kate a thumbs-up sign. “What are the results?”
“We’ve determined the maker of the timing devices. It’s a company here in Colorado. There are some reports you might want to compare and contrast,” Chip said.
“I’ll drive over to pick up the results.” He thought a minute. “Or better yet, why don’t you send them by special courier. I’ve got a lot of things to do today.”
“Sure thing,” the lab tech said.
Jake put down the phone and gave a rueful look at the clock. “Time to hustle,” he said.
“Don’t I know it.” Kate put a hand on Jake’s chest. “There’s so much I want to tell you. So many things that need to be said.”
Jake kissed her softly. “We’ll have a chance to say them all. There are some things I want to tell you, things about the past.” In the golden light of morning, Jake was having second thoughts about withholding the information concerning the skeleton he’d discovered. Kate was the sheriff. By not telling her, he was, essentially, subverting her authority. But on the other hand, he was also protecting her. At least until he knew something more concrete.
He’d been seventeen when Anne McArdle had disappeared with a man named Johnny Goodloe and the proceeds of the sale of the old opera house. It had been a substantial sum of money. Jake’s concern had been Kate. Though she’d shown a cool, composed exterior to the world, the abandonment had hit her hard.
Familiar Fire Page 14