“I can imagine.” She tugged on the wig and shoved her blonde tresses under it. “I end up in a hotel room with a dead guy and then Michael gets shot on and guess who happens to be on the beach with him. Tell me they aren’t saying I shot him.”
Marla didn’t answer. Instead she pulled a pair of glasses out of her purse. “Put these on.”
“Wow.” Marla stood back admiring her handiwork. “It’s amazing what a different hairstyle and glasses can do.” She handed Carolyn a pair of keys.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a rental. There’s no way I’m going to walk out of this place with you.”
“But. . ..”
“Dressed the way you are, no one will recognize you,” Marla insisted. “Just walk out of here like you know where you’re going.” Marla told her where to find the rental car.
“Where am I going?”
“To The Cove in Depot Bay. I made reservations there for Mary Chapman.”
“M-Mary Chapman?” Carolyn stammered. “But I thought I was going to the gallery.”
“You are, I hope. First we need to talk to Katherine and make sure she’s on board with our being there.”
Katherine Dean owned the gallery and had been a friend for years. She felt certain the older woman would welcome her, but that was before Adam Burke’s murder.
“Now get going. I have to bring my car around to pick up Michael.”
“Wish me luck.”
“I’ll pray.” Marla said as she walked out.
Carolyn took a deep breath before opening the door. She glanced in both directions and then hurried outside and into the parking structure. As she exited the building, Carolyn couldn’t believe how easy it had been to slip past the reporters and police loitering in the lobby. As far as she could tell no one had recognized her.
Half an hour later she pulled into the parking lot at The Cove. Mary Chapman. She’d repeated the name a hundred times during the drive. It took less than ten minutes to register and find her room, a suite with a view of the bay. She enjoyed Depot Bay with its sea wall on the west side of the highway and lots of shops tucked into the hills on the east. When the tide was in and especially during and after a storm, waves crashed into the rocks along the sea wall. A number of blow holes sucked in water and then erupted, spraying water up onto the sidewalk and onto unsuspecting tourists.
A walk along the sea wall sounded perfect. Maybe she’d venture out later, but right now she needed a nap. There were two queen sized beds and a desk. In the bathroom she found soft oversized towels and a Jacuzzi tub.
“Nice.” Carolyn placed a call from her room phone to Marla’s cell. It went straight to voice mail. “I’m here. Call me.”
A shower and a nap sounded like the perfect way to unwind. She’d just slipped off the flannel over-shirt and tossed it on the bed when someone knocked on the door.
Her heart shifted into overdrive. It was too soon for Marla to be here.
She struggled back into the shirt and hurried to the door. Looking through the security eye, she spotted the young man who had checked her in. He knocked again. She opened the door a few inches. “Did you need something?”
“I forgot to give this to you when you checked in.” He handed her a package about two inches thick. “Where did this come from?”
He shrugged. “Some guy dropped it off just before you arrived.”
Some guy? No one except Marla knew she’d come here. Carolyn managed to thank him and close the door.
She examined the package addressed to Mary Chapman in care of Cozy Creek Resort. Her heart pounding, she set in on the counter not daring to open it. Words to the song, I’ll be Watching You, filled her mind and took her breath away,
How could he know she’d come here?
Chapter Eight
Marla pulled her blue Escort up to the hospital entrance where the nurse helped Michael out of the wheelchair and into the front seat. She’d set the seat back as far as it would go, but his long legs still felt cramped in the compact. The nurse tucked his crutches into the back and told him to call if he had any problems.
“Thanks.”
“I’m sorry for the cramped space. I should have used the squad car.”
“I’ll manage.” He glanced into the back seat. “Where’s Carolyn?”
“In a safe place. I rented a car for her and sent her to Depot Bay. Don’t worry, I’m driving down to join her as soon as I get you settled into your apartment.”
“She’s out there alone?”
Marla smiled. “Yes, but her name is no longer Carolyn. It’s Mary Chapman and she’s a brunette and wears glasses. You wouldn’t recognize her.”
He sighed, too weary to argue. “Maybe not, but let’s hope our killer doesn’t either.”
By the time Michael made it to the recliner in his apartment, he couldn’t think straight. There was no way he’d be able to make it through the next few hours without pain medication. Marla fixed him an ice pack, set the pills and a glass of water on the coffee table and pulled it near enough for him to reach.
She stood next to him, hands on her hips, a worried expression on her face. “You don’t look so good. Will you be okay with me leaving for a while?”
“I’m fine.” He gripped the arms of the chair, pushing it until the foot rest came up and snapped into place. “Go. And call me when you get to the resort. You should have had an officer go with her.”
“I thought it would be best if we didn’t call attention to her.”
“It’s done.” He wasn’t happy with the arrangement. He hoped Marla knew what she was doing.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Michael. And I promise to call as soon as I get there.”
He downed a couple of pills and settled the ice pack on his leg before letting his head rest against the pillow.
Marla hesitated at the door. “I talked to Detective Calhoun this afternoon and he promised to come in and check on you. I’ll spend the night with Carolyn or rather Mary at the hotel and most likely take her to the gallery in the morning.”
He mumbled an assent. Marla left and he closed his eyes. How was he going to protect Carolyn Hudson when he couldn’t even take care of himself? Frustrated and angry he prayed. “God please look out for her. And help us catch this maniac.”
Carolyn eventually talked herself into opening the package. Relief flooded her. Inside was a note from Marla. Thought you might need these. See you soon.
Her wallet, credit cards and some cash were inside along with the handbag she’d borrowed at the house. Marla must have asked someone to deliver the package here. Maybe she was safe.
Finally daring to relax, Carolyn took a hot bath and then slipped into the hotel’s plush, monogramed robe before crawling into bed. She expected to fall asleep immediately, but her mind refused to quiet down. After a while she gave up on sleep and settled onto the love seat and turned on the television. The afternoon news. Just what she didn’t want. The screen filled with a close up of James Trenton, Adam Burke’s political opponent.
“It looks as though you’ll have a clear shot at the senate race now that Adam Burke is out of the picture.” A reporter held a microphone toward him.
Carolyn couldn’t believe she’d heard right. How could the man be so callous?
“Adam and I may have been on opposite sides of the fence politically, but losing Adam is like losing a dear friend. We’re shocked at the turn of events and then to have his name slandered in the process.”
“Did you know Carolyn Hudson, the woman with whom he was having an affair?”
Carolyn gasped. She suspected her reputation would take a hit in the media, but hearing her name in such a slanderous way sent a dagger into her chest.
“I did not,” Trent said, “but I’m not surprised by Burke’s behavior. What does surprise me is that the woman still hasn’t been arrested.”
Carolyn pressed the off button. She couldn’t listen anymore. She wanted to deny the allegations, but was that even possible
? Going to the media would accomplish nothing except to make her an even bigger target.
She crawled up onto the bed again and was just drifting off when an image flashed in her mind. A prelude to a dream or a real memory? Seeing Adam’s political opponent must have triggered it. She again remembered seeing James Trenton at the Pacific Beach Resort just prior to the fundraiser for Burke. So why had James Trenton been there? Maybe her earlier assumption was correct in that he’d come for the publicity. Maybe he’d come to scope the place out. Would Trenton have gone to such great lengths to get rid of his opponent?
Could he have lured Adam into that hotel suite and killed him? Could he have drugged her? Why would he do that? Could winning the senate seat mean that much to him?
He stood to gain hundreds of thousands in monetary terms, not to mention the prestige. He definitely had motive.
She wanted to revisit the idea with Michael, but that would have to wait.
Marla arrived at five, putting an end to her musings. Her friend bustled in with a number of bags smelling of Chinese take-out.
“Glad to see you’re safe and well.” Marla set her packages on the credenza and gave her a hug. “Michael was worried.”
“I was worried.” Carolyn told her about the package. “The desk clerk told me a man had brought it. I thought for sure the killer had supernatural powers and had somehow found me.
“Oh, Carolyn, I’m so sorry. I asked my brother to drop it off on his way to Newport.”
“No harm done except that all this angst is giving me ulcers.” She held a hand to her stomach for emphasis.
Marla rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a drama queen.”
Carolyn chuckled. “Believe me, I’d like a lot less drama.”
Marla sobered. “I know.”
“Speaking of drama, how is Michael?”
Marla picked up one of the packages she’d brought in—the food. She set several containers of Chinese dishes on the table. In another bag she had napkins, utensils and a liter of Diet Coke.
When she didn’t answer, Carolyn touched her arm. “He’s okay, isn’t he?”
“He was when I left him. I’m worried he’s going to try to do too much. Right now he’s zonked on pain pills.”
Carolyn chewed on her lower lip. “Should he be alone?”
Marla grinned. “No, but neither should you.”
Carolyn sighed. “I have an idea. I’m going to be staying in the loft, right?”
“Yes, Katherine told me it was free and you’re welcome to stay as long as you need it.” She opened the six containers.
The aroma drew Carolyn forward reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since lunch at the hotel café with Michael.
“Maybe Michael could stay there with me until he’s able to get around better.”
Marla waggled her eyebrows. “I don’t believe it. Miss I’d-never-live-with-a-man-outside-of-marriage is suggesting co-habitation?”
Carolyn heaved an exasperated sigh. “It isn’t like that and you know it. Michael and I are not dating or even thinking about it.”
“Are you sure?” Marla emptied part of a container of Kung Pao Chicken onto her paper plate with a serving of rice. “I’ve noticed the way he looks at you and it’s definitely not platonic.”
“I hardly know him.” Her insistence seemed a little forced even to her own ears and Marla looked unconvinced. “I’m only offering because he needs someone to take care of him while he’s recuperating and I need to stay out of sight.” Carolyn picked up a paper plate and looked over the open containers before selecting chicken with orange sauce.
Marla seemed to consider the suggestion and nodded. “It might work, but you should stay at his place.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Marla, I need to work. I need to paint. The loft will let me take care of Michael and do my art work.” She used chopsticks to spear a piece of chicken. “I can’t sit around doing nothing.”
“I get it. But what about the paint fumes?”
“There’s good ventilation.”
“What about the stairs?”
Carolyn massaged her temples. “Forget I said anything. It won’t work anyway. I’m not used to taking care of people.”
“I think you should stay with him; we’ll just have to work out the logistics.”
The following day Michael’s pain level had gone down considerably. With icing the leg, he figured he’d be able to get by on plain Tylenol and save the codeine for nighttime.
Carolyn had called the night before to tell him what Trenton had said about her and remind him about Trenton being at the resort during the political event. He in turn had passed the tip on to Doug who would be following up on the case. Michael had orders from his supervisor to lay low. If and when he felt like working, he could take a temporary desk job after the doctor cleared him. Not a chance.
He carefully lifted his injured leg off the couch and hobbled into the kitchen using the crutches the doctor had sent home with him. No matter how much he wanted to work on the case, it wasn’t going to happen. He was in no shape to do much of anything. Doug had come by the evening before on his way home. He’d promised to do what he could to protect Carolyn. While the captain made it clear they couldn’t afford round the clock protection, he had given the okay for Marla to stay with her in the evenings.
The conversation had given him an idea. Michael would ask Carolyn to stay with him. He knew it was asking a lot, but he’d feel better if he could be with her.
He shook his head thinking about his misjudgment in taking her to the beach. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Marla showed up at his place at eleven. He’d given her a key the day before so he didn’t get up.
“Where’s Carolyn.” He looked past her into the entry.
“On her way.” Marla grinned. “She’s in disguise so don’t worry. She was right behind me.”
“Shouldn’t you have been following her?”
“Michael, give me a break.” Marla leaned out so she could see the parking area. “She was following me here because she didn’t know where you lived.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “So where is she?”
Marla frowned. “She was right behind me when I turned in here. I swear.”
“Maybe you’d better go out to the main street in case she missed the turn.”
Five minutes passed before Marla came back in. “She’s not out there.”
Michael pushed to his feet. Pain shot through him, forcing him back against the cushions. “Find her!” He growled out the order and held his breath.
“I’m sure she’s coming. Maybe she saw where I went and decided to run an errand. Maybe since she was wearing a disguise she went to her apartment for some clothes.”
He dragged a hand down his face. He hated being so helpless. “Find her,” he said again. This time it was more of a prayer.
Carolyn drove past the driveway Marla had turned into. She knew once she saw Michael she wouldn’t be able to leave him. She couldn’t tell either Marla or Michael about her plans. Carolyn hated deceiving them and should have called. And she would, after she’d seen Emily Burke.
On the way north from Depot Bay she’d thought again about the television interview with James Trenton and his allegations about Adam having a mistress. Carolyn couldn’t tolerate people thinking she’d been involved with Adam or anyone else for that matter. Emily Burke needed to know the truth about her husband.
Apparently the police hadn’t shared their evidence with the press. She didn’t blame them for wanting to keep the things quiet. But it wasn’t right for Mrs. Burke to be under the assumption that he’d been having an affair with Carolyn. Besides that, she needed to return the $1000 Adam had advanced her for the portrait since she would no longer be painting it.
She drove to Roads End at the north end of Lincoln City and looked for the address on Burke’s business card. Burke’s multi-million-dollar estate overlooked the bluff not f
ar from where she and Michael had been walking the day before. She’d known they lived in that area, but hadn’t known until now how close it was. Could Brian have been the shooter? Or Emily?
She shuddered at the thought. Maybe coming here had been a mistake. If she had any sense at all, she’d turn around and go back to Michael’s and forget about making amends. But how could she walk away? Emily didn’t deserve the kind of pain she must be suffering in thinking Adam had been unfaithful. No wife should have to go through that, especially if it wasn’t true.
Carolyn pulled into the driveway, squared her shoulders and prayed for wisdom.
She was about to get out of the car when a blue BMW convertible pulled beside her.
“Can I help you?” Brian jumped out of his car and strode toward her. The scowl on his face told her in no uncertain terms he didn’t want her there.
She frowned and wondered how he had recognized her and then realized he hadn’t.
“I came by to offer my condolences and was hoping to talk with Emily.”
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as recognition set in. “You’re no friend.” He sneered. “What do you want?”
“Brian, please. I just want to talk to your mother.”
“And what? Apologize?”
“No. I’ve done nothing to apologize for.”
Brian stepped even closer and gripped her upper arm.
Oh, Lord, please don’t let him kill me.
Chapter Nine
“What do you mean you have nothing to apologize for?” Brian tightened his grip on her arm. “I know you were in the hotel room with him. I saw that video where you confessed. Your prints were on the gun.”
Carolyn leaned away from him. “I didn’t confess. Didn’t the police tell you? I couldn’t have killed him. Someone drugged me and staged the whole thing. I want to know who killed your father as much as you do.”
“Brian, stop.” Emily must have heard Brian shouting and come out to investigate. “Let her go before you get yourself arrested for assault.”
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