They arrived at her place about ten minutes later, although she scarcely remembered the drive. He remained in his car as she hurried into her apartment, where she took a shower in record time, then changed into a clean pair of navy sweats and matching top with a hood.
Once she’d slipped into white sneakers, she was ready to go. Gideon handed her into his car and they were off. She felt his encompassing glance.
“With your coloring, you look beautiful in anything.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Kevin asked me if you dyed your hair. I told him it wasn’t possible to imitate nature like that.”
“Nature kind of went berserk on me,” she joked, hoping to quell the frantic beating of her heart.
“You remind me of a picture I once saw in a fairy tale.”
“Maybe it’s the same one my parents used to read me when I was young. There was a picture in the book of two little girls riding through the forest on the back of a huge bear. One had dark hair, the other red. They were called Snow White and Rose Red.”
“I think that was it.”
She smiled. “Daddy nicknamed Dana and me after them. Pretty soon Dr. Turner started calling us that, too. We grew up and I forgot all about it until the day the Turners came home from the trial.
“Already in grieving over Amy’s death, Dr. Turner hugged me and wept. All he said was, “Rose Red? My beautiful little Snow White has been locked away. How can I bear it?”
Once more tears trickled down Heidi’s cheeks. She felt a strong hand reach for hers.
“No one can bring Amy back, but there’s hope for Dana.”
She turned her head in his direction. “More than anything in the world, I want to believe that.”
He squeezed her fingers. “The two of you have made me into a believer. I went to see her again today. At the end of our talk, I told her I was going to do whatever I could to get her out of there.”
Heidi didn’t know how to express her feelings. In a spontaneous gesture, she raised their clasped hands and kissed the back of his.
“It’s a good thing I’m driving,” she heard him say.
Embarrassed by the transparency of her emotions, she tried to remove her hand from his grasp. It was no use. She gave up, much preferring to enjoy the physical contact.
“I’m sure your visit gave her new life.”
“Let’s hope so. She’s been carrying a heavy burden for far too long. Maybe tonight she’ll sleep a little easier knowing someone else is sharing it now.”
Heidi couldn’t imagine what he was talking about. “What do you mean, a heavy burden?”
“Since the night of Amy’s death, Dana’s been keeping a secret to protect someone else from being arrested. She went so far as to perjure herself.”
“She told you this?” Heidi blurted.
“I caught her in a lie. We went from there.”
“But that doesn’t make any sense. Who’s she protecting?”
“You.”
At first she thought he was either teasing or she hadn’t heard him correctly. Then she realized that although she might not have known Gideon long, she’d already learned he was a man who said exactly what he meant.
She turned toward him. “Gideon? I don’t understand.”
“Quite simply she was afraid the police would implicate you in Amy’s murder. Since no one knew you’d been with Dana not once but twice on the day of the murder, she purposely kept your name out of everything and began to distance herself from you.
“Because she intended to lie on the witness stand to protect you, she made sure neither you nor your family were called as character witnesses. Finally she asked you to stay away from the trial so you’d never find out she’d lied.”
Heidi was aghast. “I can’t fathom any of it.”
“You will when you read the trial transcript and the diaries.”
“What diaries?”
“Amy’s.”
“She kept a diary? I didn’t know.”
“That’s what Dana said, but the police found them in Dana’s closet after the fire. The first entries date back to her junior-high-school days. Those diaries were the key evidence that put Dana behind bars.” He frowned. “Are you telling me you never read anything about the case or saw any TV news reports?”
“No. Dana said she’d be able to get through the whole ordeal more easily if she knew I’d separated myself from all the sensationalism. Naturally, people at school would bring up the subject, but I avoided it as much as possible. What did the diaries say?”
“I’ve had photocopies made for you. After we eat, we’ll go over them in detail.”
She started to shake. Not so much from what he’d just told her as from what he was holding back…
“I won’t lie to you, Heidi. None of the entries are pretty. The early ones are painful to read, and the later ones shocked even me, and I’m rarely shocked by anything. Getting inside Amy Turner’s mind is like crawling through a snake pit. I’m counting on you to help me make sense of it.”
CHAPTER NINE
“I’M AFRAID, Gideon.”
“Don’t be. I gave you the bad news first so you’d enjoy the good.”
“What’s that?” she murmured.
“For one thing, we’re home. In about ten minutes you’re going to be treated to my steak fajitas. Kevin says they’re better than anyone else’s, and that’s high praise.”
Heidi had been so preoccupied by the troubling things he’d told her she hadn’t realized they’d pulled into the driveway of his California-ranch-style home. Ever since they’d met, she’d wanted to see where he lived.
He drove to the rear of the property. A row of flowering oleanders separated them from the neighboring house. As he opened the car door for her, she inhaled the intoxicating ocean breeze.
“You’re so fortunate to be this close to the water. My apartment’s great because it’s close to work, but it’s too far inland.”
“I know what you mean. When I moved here from New York, I grabbed this place because it’s only two blocks from the ocean. There’s nothing like the smell of salt spray in the air.”
He slid his arm around her waist and ushered her along the path to the back door of the house.
“I can hear Pokey.”
Gideon smiled. “He’s in the kitchen and he knows I’ve brought someone home with me.”
His eyes wandered over her face and hair. “The moisture has made this curlier.” He lifted his hand to capture a glistening red-gold whorl around his finger.
Trapped between his body and the door, she could practically feel the heat emanating from him. His eyes blazed a hot blue.
“The other day my best friend, Max, asked me to describe you. I told him you were like a candle shining in the darkness. There’s a glow that comes from within. I want to get as close as I can to warm myself.”
A little moan escaped Heidi’s throat as his dark head descended and he covered her mouth with his own.
She’d wanted this for so long!
They began a slow, thorough exchange of pleasure. The joy of tasting and touching him sent a heady feeling of delight through her body. Swept away by sensation, she went where he led, unaware of the momentum that was building.
Pokey’s bark from the other side of the door might have been nonexistent.
As time passed, one kiss turned into another, each one deeper, longer. They whipped up a frenzy of excitement inside Heidi that was almost frightening in its intensity, yet she wanted more. More. She wanted to get closer.
As if reading her mind, Gideon lifted her off the step so she wouldn’t have to strain to reach him. Given her wish, she was able to cradle his head between her hands so she could cover every inch of his face with hungry kisses.
He probably hadn’t shaved since early morning. She loved the slight rasp of his skin, the thrust of his jaw, the softness of his eyelashes.
“Keep this up and you’re going to get the same treatment,” he sa
id in a husky whisper.
“I can’t seem to stop.”
“Then so be it.”
In the next instant she found herself being kissed just the way he’d promised. Her hair, her eyelids, her cheeks, her throat. This fusion of mouths and bodies created a fire that burned hotter than anything Heidi had ever known.
As she continued to spiral out of control, a male voice spoke up from somewhere beyond the oleanders. “Hey, neighbor, how’s it going?”
She heard Gideon’s muffled groan of protest before he lowered her to the concrete step with a reluctance she could feel. Weakness kept her clinging to him until she could regain the use of her legs.
“Not bad, Mel,” he called back.
Heidi tried to ease out of his arms, but her strength was no match for his.
“Gideon…I’m sure he’s seen us.”
“So am I. And he’d sell his soul to be in my place right now.”
“Gideon!” She squirmed and twisted to no avail.
“You’re terrible! Please, let’s go inside.”
He wasn’t listening. To her chagrin he seemed in no hurry whatsoever. “I knew if I touched you it was going to be like this,” he admitted. “I need another kiss from you before Pokey tries to separate us.”
With those words Gideon captured her mouth again, eliciting a response that left them both trembling with need by the time he tore his lips from hers.
“C-can we go inside now?” she begged.
He gave her a quick smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Putting his key in the door, he opened it so she could pass through. Pokey was right there to greet them.
Gideon crouched down to pet him. “Hello, boy. Look who I’ve brought home. Remember Heidi? Say hello to her. Come on.”
The beagle sat back, then lifted his paw to shake, the way he’d done at the prison parking lot.
Heidi knelt down to hold his paw and stroke his head. “No wonder everyone adores you.”
She felt Gideon’s arm go around her as they stood up. He stared into her eyes. “That’s exactly what I said the first time I saw you. Every kid in your class must have a terrible crush on you,” he whispered against her lips.
Pokey barked, insinuating himself between their legs.
“Why don’t you make yourself at home while I get cleaned up?”
“Would you like me to start dinner?”
“If you want.” He stole another kiss. “I promise I won’t be long.”
The dog raced after him.
As Heidi moved into the large kitchen with its attached family room, she realized she was no longer the same woman who’d left for school almost ten hours before.
Gideon was the person responsible for her transformation.
Her feelings for him had already gone so deep she was afraid to believe he could possibly return them. It wasn’t just the physical chemistry. There was so much more to it.
He filled needs she’d never recognized she had. But she knew it now; otherwise she wouldn’t feel this sensation of…of completeness and ecstasy that just being around him created.
After washing her hands at the sink, she looked in his refrigerator and took out the onions and peppers they’d need for their meal. While she got busy slicing them on a chopping block, Pokey came into the kitchen to keep her company.
Again she had the feeling that this whole experience couldn’t possibly be real. Here she was, preparing food in Gideon’s kitchen with his dog at her feet, as if this were an everyday occurrence. Yet it felt so good, so right.
Like you belong here? an inner voice questioned.
Heidi didn’t dare think along those lines. It was too soon for that.
“Now there’s a sight,” Gideon said in a low voice.
She glanced over her shoulder to see him enter the kitchen. Showered and shaved, he looked marvelous in a claret crewneck. His jeans molded hard-muscled legs. As far as Heidi was concerned, Gideon was the perfect male.
He made straight for her and slipped his hands around her waist, trapping her against the counter. She let out a tiny gasp of pleasure as he kissed the side of her neck.
“If you continue to do that, I won’t be able to finish getting these vegetables ready,” she murmured.
“Tell you what. Turn around and give me what I want, then I promise to take over.”
Her hands rested in her task of slicing the last pepper. “I’m not sure I dare,” she whispered.
“You shouldn’t have said that. Now I have to kiss you again to make certain you aren’t something my imagination dreamed up.”
He removed the knife from her hands, then turned her in his arms until they faced each other. He placed one of her hands over his heart. “Can you hear it beating?” he whispered.
She stared up at him. “I don’t know. Mine’s pounding so hard it’s impossible to tell.”
In the next breath he reached for her right hand and placed it against his heart. She started trembling again.
With a sense of wonder she moved it slowly over the hard muscles of his chest. His hand still covered hers.
“Feel that?” he demanded. “It’s been beating dangerously fast since you burst into my life. I want to know what you’re going to do about it.”
“What do you want me to do?” she asked in a tremulous voice.
“This, for starters.”
He found her lips, brushing his against them in a teasing motion that wouldn’t allow her to deepen their kiss. Crazy with need, she threw her arms around his neck to bring him closer.
He groaned with satisfaction as their mouths fused. Heidi could have gone on forever with this giving and taking. But she hadn’t counted on Pokey, who jumped up on them and whined to gain their attention.
Gideon’s son wasn’t the only one unused to sharing him. She said as much when he finally lifted his mouth from hers.
“They’re learning,” was his brief response after he relinquished his hold on her.
Heidi read his comment to mean that Kevin was still showing resistance, but she decided to leave the subject alone and turned around to resume her task.
Gideon didn’t seem interested in talking about problems, either. Instead he put on some classical music, then sliced T-bone steak into small strips and put them on the grill. While Gideon heated the flour tortillas and set the table, she prepared a simple salad.
“Kevin was right. These are the best fajitas I’ve ever tasted,” she said a few minutes later when they sat down at the family-room table to enjoy their dinner. Combined with the fresh green salad and a little red wine, the meal seemed as perfect as everything else about being with him.
She darted him a glance. “This whole meal is fantastic—and your homemade sesame dressing is out of this world. Thank you for the delicious food.”
He eyed her over the rim of his wineglass. “We haven’t had dessert yet.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Maybe I can change your mind after our walk on the beach. But first things first. Excuse me for a minute while I bring in some things from the trunk of the car.” Pokey trotted after him.
She knew exactly what Gideon was referring to and felt her happiness fade. Getting up from the chair, she cleared the table and carried everything to the counter.
When Gideon came back inside, he brought the stack of photocopies into the family room, then helped her finish cleaning up the kitchen.
Afterward he slid his hand to the back of her neck. “Shall we get started? I know a part of you is dreading this, but the sooner we get through it, the sooner we can watch the tide come in.”
She nodded, walking into the other room with him.
“I think we’ll get the worst over with first, so I’ll have you read the diaries. As I told you earlier, these provided the evidence that enabled Ron Jenke to make such a compelling, loaded argument to the jury.”
He handed her the top set of photocopies. “This is diary one. They go in order up to six. Sit down and make yourself
comfortable. I’ll turn on the light.”
She opened to the first entry dated September eighth. Amy would have been in seventh grade back then.
Mrs. Winegar told me my school journal should only contain things that other people can read, so she gave me this little diary to keep at home. She told me I could put anything I wanted in it because no one else would ever see it. She’s the only teacher who’s ever been nice to me.
The name Winegar didn’t ring a bell, but Heidi kept on reading.
My mom and dad wish I’d never been born. But that’s okay, because I don’t like them, either. That goes for Dana, too. Every morning she tells me she hates my guts and wishes Heidi were her sister, instead of me. Heidi hates me, too. When she comes over to the house, she always tells me to stay out of her way.
Mom and Dad treat her better than they treat me. They don’t know how mean she and Dana really are to me when they’re not at home. Sometimes when I’m in the bathroom, they lock me in and pretend they can’t hear me pounding on the door to get out.
Heidi’s gasp resounded in the room. Her gaze flew to Gideon’s in absolute shock. She’d had no idea that Amy had harbored these twisted feelings.
They’re seniors in high school and they think they’re queens. I’m like a blade of grass they squish under their feet without even noticing. They laugh at me when I get ready to go to my ballet lesson. Dana says I’m too fat and told me to go on a diet. Heidi told Mom to put me on the Air Force diet because Mrs. Ellis said it worked for her.
Horrified, Heidi picked another page. She didn’t want to read any more lies, but she had to get through this if she was going to help Dana.
I told Dad I was going to be a movie star. He said I was too fat. But I’ll show him. I’m going to stop eating. When I’m famous, they’ll be sorry, and then Dana and Heidi will feel like blades of grass.
Sick to her stomach, Heidi put the page back on the table.
“I can’t do this, Gideon. I can’t!” She jumped to her feet, rubbing her arms. “There isn’t one shred of truth to any of it! She made this all up in her sick mind. Did Dana read these?”
My Private Detective Page 13