She brushed some crumbs from the credenza into her palm just as Duke’s phone vibrated. Was this the text he was expecting?
She spun the phone around to face her, touching the screen in the process. The phone was still unlocked from Duke’s last usage.
The text message, from Mick Tedesco, sprang to life, and one word jumped out at Beth—Brice. Her eyes darted to the door and back to the phone.
She read the message aloud. “‘The request to the Brices was sent and approved.’”
Pressing one hand to her heart, she stepped back. What request? Duke hadn’t mentioned any request he’d made from the Brices. Did he plan to steal her thunder?
She heard the key at the door and retreated to the bathroom. How could she even ask him about it now without admitting she’d read his private text?
He stepped into the room. “That’s better.”
She poked her head out of the bathroom. “Would you mind taking the leftover pizza to your room when you leave?”
His step faltered for a second but he recovered quickly. “Sure. You want me to leave the wine here?”
“You can leave the wine.” She ducked back into the bathroom and called out, “Don’t forget your phone.”
“Got it.”
A few minutes later he stood at the bathroom door, his boots back on and holding the pizza box in front of him with the cell phone on top.
Holding her breath, her gaze darted to the phone. Had he checked his very important message about the Brices yet?
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Beth. And don’t even think about going to Scarlett’s without me.”
“Of course not.” She smiled as she unwound about a foot of dental floss. “We’re partners in crime, right?”
A small vertical line formed between his eyebrows. “Right. Good night.”
“Good night. Thanks for the pizza and wine.”
When the door closed behind him, she threw the second bolt into place and marched to the credenza. She uncorked the wine and poured herself another generous glass.
Then she sat cross-legged on the bed and took a big gulp. It was a good thing she hadn’t revealed her final secret to Duke...because the man was keeping one of his own.
Chapter Ten
Duke dropped the pizza box in his room and unlocked his phone to read Mick’s message. Releasing a breath, he stretched out on the bed and texted him back. Rush order?
A few minutes later Mick confirmed and Duke ate another piece of pizza to celebrate. He’d hoped to celebrate another way tonight, but Beth had made it clear that she’d expected him to spend the night in his own room. Maybe she hadn’t bought his forgiveness-and-understanding shtick, even though he’d been dead serious.
He didn’t blame her for not trusting him. As recently as two days ago he’d been railing against her for her actions two years ago. That was before he’d discovered her real purpose for being in Timberline.
He finished the pizza and got up to brush his teeth. He leaned forward and studied his face in the mirror.
Maybe Beth had it right. This time they should take things slow and easy and not jump to any conclusions about each other.
He could do that.
Could she?
* * *
DUKE SPENT THE next day in meetings with the local FBI office and on the phone with the Drug Enforcement Agency. He’d touched base with Beth a few times and she’d been busy conducting more interviews and visiting relevant sites like the house of Kayla Rush’s kidnapping.
He just wanted to make sure she didn’t go out to Scarlett Easton’s house by herself. He didn’t trust those hunters—or anyone else in this town.
He ended his day in the sheriff’s station, shooting the breeze with Unger. Musgrove had gone golfing with the mayor and Jordan Young.
“The local hunters don’t much care for Scarlett Easton?”
“She complains about them a lot. She just doesn’t like hunting.”
“They’ve done things like that before? Shoot close to her property?”
“Sure, but they’ve never come close to hitting someone, like they did with Ms. St. Regis.”
“Yeah.” Duke chewed the edge of his fingernail.
“Do you think it was on purpose?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe someone was trying to scare her off, like with the broken window and the frog head, but that’s extreme.”
“If the guy was a good shot, he wouldn’t see it as extreme since he never intended for the bullet to hit its mark.”
“Still, that could be attempted murder.”
“You and I know that, but someone willing to take that chance in the first place—” Unger shrugged “—that might not occur to him.”
“I told Beth I’d ask you about your mom, if she’d be willing to talk to her about the Brices and what happened twenty-five years ago.”
“I’d hate for my mom to wind up on TV.”
“I understand. What if I could guarantee that her interview wouldn’t leave Beth’s possession?”
“Then why would Beth want to interview my mother if she didn’t plan to use it for the segment?”
Toying with the edge of a folder, Duke said, “Information.”
“Is that why Beth was talking to Scarlett Easton? Information? Because I can’t imagine Scarlett wanting to get involved with a TV show. I don’t think she even watches TV.”
“Just a different perspective. These shows collect all kinds of footage and info they never use.”
Unger lifted his shoulders. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, man.” Duke checked his phone. Did five o’clock qualify as dusk? “I’m outta here. Keep me posted on any new developments in the Gary Binder hit and run.”
“Will do.”
When Duke pulled into the parking lot of the Timberline Hotel, his shoulders relaxed when he spotted Beth’s rental car. He’d had a nagging feeling all day that she’d take off without him.
He waved to Gregory at the front desk, avoided Walt and Sue in the lobby and jogged up the two flights of stairs to Beth’s room. As he knocked on the door, he called, “Beth, it’s Duke.”
She opened the door. “I saw Scarlett in town. We’re meeting at seven.”
“Do you want to get something to eat on the way?”
“I had a bite to eat in town. I’ll knock when I’m ready to go. About thirty minutes?”
“I’ll be ready.”
She shut the door in his face.
Had she read his mind and his body language last night? He’d wanted to bed her and, up until last night, he’d thought she’d wanted the same thing.
Maybe he wouldn’t get a second chance with Beth, but he still planned to make sure nothing happened to her on this wild-goose chase.
He’d had a big lunch with the FBI boys and figured he could skip dinner, anyway. He showered instead and changed out of his suit. He didn’t know what to wear to a haunting, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t a suit.
At around six forty-five, Beth tapped on his door.
He greeted her by jingling his car keys. “Let’s take my SUV. It has four-wheel drive. Her place is remote, even by Timberline standards.”
“Okay.” She nervously toyed with a chain around her neck.
“Is that the locket?”
“This is it.” She held it out from her neck with her thumb, where a gold heart dangled from the delicate chain.
As they hit the stairwell, Duke said, “I’ve worked with psychics a few times on cases. While they haven’t solved anything for us, there’s definitely something there.”
“I hope Scarlett can tell me something. Even if it’s some small connection to the Brices, it might be enough.”
“Enough for what?” Duke pus
hed open the door to the lobby.
“Enough to warrant some communication with them, but like I said before, I don’t want to give them any false hope.”
“False hope is never good, especially in cases like this.”
She tilted her head and shot him a quizzical look from beneath her lashes before she got into the car.
He started the car. “I’m guessing you didn’t get to interview Jordan Young today.”
“I didn’t. How’d you know that?”
“I dropped by the sheriff’s station to see Cody—Deputy Unger—and he told me Sheriff Musgrove was out playing golf with Young and the mayor.” He snapped his fingers. “Mayor Burton. Have you met him yet?”
“Not yet. I spent my day videotaping different locations...and replacing my frog.”
“You bought another?”
“I wanted to ask Linda, the shop owner, if anyone had come into the store after me or had asked about me later.”
“Any luck?”
“Nothing suspicious, anyway. A few people chatted with her about the show, but these were people she knew. She was happy to sell me another frog, though.”
“Are you going to keep this one under lock and key?” Duke made the turn off the main highway and the sky immediately darkened as the trees grew thicker.
“I’m going to guard him with my life.”
He glanced sideways at her, expecting a smile, but Beth’s jaw had a hard line that worried the hell out of him. How long had she been obsessed by this? He’d never seen this side to her two years ago.
As much time as they’d spent together, as many times as they’d made love, he’d never really known her.
The SUV bounced over the rough road and Beth clutched the locket against her throat.
“Are you having second thoughts? Because we can turn right around.”
“No. Scarlett said it would be tougher on her than me.”
“It’s probably not going to be any picnic for you, either, especially if you discover something you weren’t expecting.”
“I have to do this.”
“I know you do.” He squeezed her thigh beneath the soft denim of her jeans. “And I’m gonna be right there with you.”
She gave him a stiff nod.
He parked the car at the edge of the stand of trees circling Scarlett’s house. He poked Beth in the arm. “Any more bullets start flying, hit the ground—and I’m only half kidding.”
“Do you see me laughing?”
He kept an arm around Beth’s shoulders as they approached the house, even though she’d stiffened beneath his touch. This meeting with Scarlett had put her on edge and he feared she’d drop over into the abyss.
* * *
AS THEY REACHED the porch, Beth shrugged off Duke’s arm. She didn’t need a protector, especially one who kept important secrets from her. When was he going to tell her what he was doing with the Brices? Had he actually told them about her quest?
The heavy knocker that sported a bear’s head gleamed under the porch light. Duke lifted it and tapped it against the plate several times.
Scarlett answered the door in a pair of black yoga pants and an oversize sweater that hung almost to her knees. “Did you bring the locket?”
“Right here.” Beth held it out from her neck.
“Come in and have a seat by the fire.” Her gaze raked Duke up and down. “Did that worthless sheriff tell you anything about the shot fired on my property yesterday?”
“He had a couple of deputies searching for a shell casing this morning, but that’s about as efficient as searching for a needle in a haystack, and he sent a notice out to the hunters.”
She tossed her long braid over one shoulder. “That figures. Do you want something to drink before we get started?”
“You girls aren’t going to start tossing back whiskeys again, are you?” Duke raised one eyebrow and his mouth quirked into a smile as Scarlett gave a low chuckle.
Beth’s gaze darted between Duke and Scarlett and something tightened in her chest. He liked her. What wasn’t to like? The woman was gorgeous with her long, dark hair, mocha skin and sumptuous figure. Even the baggy sweater seemed to hug her curves.
The artist had an earth-mother figure, a body made for childbearing. Beth ran her hands down her own slim hips and a sob caught in her throat.
“I’m drinking a special tea tonight.” Scarlett put her hand on Beth’s arm. “Can I get you a cup? You look pale.”
“That would be nice, thanks.”
“You—” Scarlett leveled a finger at Duke “—don’t look like a hot-tea kind of guy. Would you like a shot of that whiskey?”
“I don’t touch the hard stuff, but I could use a beer.”
Scarlett called over her shoulder as she sauntered into the kitchen. “You might need another when this is all over.”
Beth sat in a chair near the huge natural-stone fireplace and curled out her fingers to the flame. “Is this okay here?”
“I’m going to sit in front of the fireplace on the floor.” She must’ve already brewed the tea because she came out of the kitchen carrying two steaming cups. “Do you want sugar or milk?”
“No, thanks.” She took the mug from Scarlett and sniffed the slightly bitter aroma of the pale brown tea.
Scarlett put her own cup on the broad base of the fireplace and returned to the kitchen for Duke’s beer. Then she settled on a rug in front of the fire and took a sip of tea.
“A... Are there some times that are better for you to do this than others?”
“Like a full moon or something?” Scarlett shrugged. “No. You have the gift or you don’t.”
Beth sucked some tea onto her tongue and wrinkled her nose. Maybe she should’ve gone with the sugar.
Scarlett studied her over the rim of her mug. “Doesn’t taste very good, does it? It’s an acquired taste. I make it myself from roots and berries—an old recipe handed down through the generations.”
With trembling fingers, Beth reached for the clasp on her locket. “I suppose you want this.”
Three tries and she still couldn’t unlatch the necklace.
“Let me.” Duke crouched beside her and brushed her hair from the back of her neck. His warm fingers against her nape caused a thrill of excitement to race through her body despite the occasion. His touch always caused an immediate reaction in her body.
“Got it.” He held out his hand where the chain pooled in his palm. He leaned forward and dumped the necklace into Scarlett’s outstretched hand.
“May I?” She paused, her thumbnail against the crease of the locket.
Beth nodded and Scarlett popped open the gold heart. She flattened it open between two fingers. “This could be your hair—this strawberry blond. The blond could even be your hair at another age.”
“That’ll help, though, won’t it? To have some hair as well as the locket?”
“It might.” Scarlett crossed her legs beneath her and stretched her arms toward the fire, her dark eyes glittering in the firelight. “There are a few rules we need to cover.”
“Rules?” Beth glanced at Duke.
“No matter what happens, do not bring me out of my trance.”
“You’re going into a trance?”
“What did you expect?” Scarlett’s dark eyebrows jumped to her hairline. “Did you think I was going to search for your locket on the internet?”
“But a trance? Is it dangerous?” Beth bit her lip.
“Draining, but not dangerous—unless you yank me out of it.” Scarlett tugged on her braid. “No matter what happens, no matter what I say or do, even if it looks like I’m having some kind of seizure.”
“Seizure? Oh, my God. I can’t let you do this, Scarlett.”
“I’ve already de
cided I’m doing it. Like I said, I have my own reasons.”
Duke sat on the floor next to Beth’s chair and curved his hand around her calf. “Let her continue, Beth. Scarlett knows what she’s doing.”
“Listen to your man.” Scarlett closed her eyes and cradled her mug. She took a long sip and placed it on the stone of the fireplace.
Her eyes opened to slits and she slipped her finger beneath the chain of the necklace and dangled it in front of the fire. The golden locket seemed infused with a flame as it swung from Scarlett’s finger.
She curled her hand around the locket and held it in her fist. She exhaled slowly and her lids fell over her eyes.
Scarlett whispered something under her breath, but Beth didn’t catch it. She raised her brows at Duke and he shook his head.
The whispers became a silent movement of the lips as Scarlett’s knuckles turned white. Her head lolled back, her long braid almost touching the rug beneath her.
Scarlett’s eyelids began flickering and her lips twitched.
Beth slid to the floor beside Duke, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm. She touched his ear with her lips. “I hope she’s okay.”
“I hope so, too.”
Scarlett’s chin dipped to her chest, her body still.
Beth whispered, “Did she fall asleep? Is this the trance she was talking about?”
Duke curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “Shh. I don’t know, Beth. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Beth watched Scarlett’s still form and it seemed as if the fire was swirling around her. Scarlett’s long hair became the flames, dancing and curling around her face.
Beth put two fingers to her throbbing temple.
Duke whispered, “What’s wrong?”
“I feel strange.” She looked at the dregs floating in her cup. “Do you think that tea was some kind of drug?”
“What do you mean, like peyote or mushrooms?”
“I don’t know.” Beth ran her tongue along her dry teeth. “I feel funny.”
“It is hot in here.”
Scarlett gave a sharp cry and her head jerked back. Her lids flew open but her eyes had rolled back in her head.
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