As a result of the chaotic suspicions tumbling through his mind, Jack’s tone bordered on hostile when he replied. “What about?”
“The warehouse explosion.”
“I told you people everything I could the other night.”
“I’d like to go over it with you again if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
Jack studied the cop on his doorstep. He considered refusing, but that would probably just arouse the man’s suspicions. He didn’t need that. “Sure.” He stepped back and allowed the Mountie into the cabin.
Moments later they entered the kitchen. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
He was surprised when Kane accepted. Much of Jack’s opinion of cops had been colored by television, and two years of avoiding all contact with them. On television, he’d rarely, if ever, seen a cop bridge the boundary between cop and civilian by accepting an offering. Still, he found he couldn’t quite let go of the suspicion that continued to seep out of that deep dark hole where his memory should have been.
“So,” he said, as he set their coffee on the table, “how can I help you?” He was immediately stuck by a sense of déjà vu and realized that he’d said very similar words to Devon just the previous evening. He hoped Kane’s visit didn’t prove as detrimental to his equilibrium as Devon’s had.
“We received the arson investigator’s preliminary report on the warehouse explosion this morning.” Kane spoke in a low, senous tone.
“And?”
“It was no accident.” He paused, studying Jack thoughtfully with an astute blue-eyed gaze that saw everything while giving away nothing. “We’ve got a couple of things to look into, but I wanted to ask you if you remembered anything more, Mr. Keller? Anything else on that vehicle you saw leaving as you pulled in?”
Jack frowned in concentration and grimly sipped the hot black coffee. “Nothing that I can think of. Like I said the other night, I only saw the guy in profile. Didn’t recognize him or his truck at the time, but I didn’t think anything of it until later. When I drove through the gates, I went straight to the warehouse to meet with Wiseman for coffee like I always do on Tuesdays. That’s the day I pick up the week’s maintenance supplies, and I was getting some lumber to repair the picnic shelters that particular day. It looked quiet. I didn’t see anybody else in the yard at all.” He shrugged. “I guess because I was a bit later than usual. I remember wondering if I’d caught the guys on their break or something because I’d forgotten about the shift change.” He shook his head. “That’s about it. If anything else comes to me, I’ll let you know.”
“Why were you late?”
“I had a flat tire to get repaired.”
Kane nodded his acceptance of the explanation. “And were you and Wiseman friends? Did you see him often?”
Jack studied the cop’s expression. “Aside from Tuesdays when I picked up supplies, I’d go by for coffee every couple of days. Sometimes, if his wife was away, he’d stop by here for a beer on his way home from work. That’s about it.”
Kane nodded, cast his gaze around and then asked, “Do you know of any reason why someone would want to kill him?”
Jack shook his head. “He didn’t talk about himself much.” Neither of them had. That’s what had made it a comfortable friendship. The Noralco foreman was a man he’d had numerous dealings with since arriving in town, and he was the closest male friend Jack had in Northridge.
Kane nodded, sipped his coffee and changed course. “Do you think you’ll recognize the man you saw leaving if you see him again?”
Jack shrugged. “I can’t be sure.”
“A local?”
Jack frowned, trying to bring into focus a face he’d seen for only seconds. “Possibly.” He knew all the locals by sight, but this person had been in profile.
“You still think the truck was a dark blue or dark green Dodge?”
Jack shook his head. “I said Ford, not Dodge. An older model. And yeah, as far as I can recall it was dark-colored.” He met Kane’s gaze. “How is Wiseman?” he asked.
Kane sipped his coffee before replying. “He’ll live, thanks to you. But it’ll be a long time before he’s ready to go back to work.”
Jack nodded. “I’m glad he’ll make it.”
Kane drained the dregs of his cup. “Listen, Mr. Keller, I was wondering...”
Jack tensed. “Wondering what?”
“Would you mind physically going through the motions you made that afternoon? Kind of a reenactment for me? It’s been my experience that, simply by putting themselves back into a situation people can remember details they otherwise wouldn’t.”
This was beginning to sound distinctly like he was under suspicion, Jack mused. As though Kane wanted to see just how many times he’d tell the story the same way. Then again, maybe he’d just been watching too much television. “You want me to drive to the lumberyard and explain everything again?”
Kane nodded. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
With a mental grimace, Jack looked hopefully toward the doorway. Devon still hadn’t reappeared, however, so he really had no excuse not to do as Kane asked. Besides, if he didn’t do it now, the cop would probably appear at an even less opportune time to ask again Finally, he shrugged and said, “As long as it doesn’t take too long. I’ll just leave a note for my houseguest.”
As she closed the bedroom door, Devon wondered at herself and the peculiar motivations surfacing within her. She’d applied her makeup with particular care and styled her hair with an eye for perfection because—for some reason—she wanted to be...beautiful today. She tried to tell herself that it was only a desire for self-confidence motivating her, because she always felt less confident when she wasn’t at her best, but intuitively she knew it was something more. And, as a result, she was more than a little nervous as she dressed to face the day ..and the stranger who was still her husband. But it turned out that she needn’t have worried. When she descended the stairs ten minutes later, Geoff wasn’t there A note propped conspicuously against the silk blooms in the center of the table read
Devon,
I had to run out for a while. Be back by noon so that we can talk Make yourself at home
Jack
The large bold lettering and almost vertical style were familiar, but the signature threw her. Oh, she knew he thought of himself, as Jack and probably would continue to do so for some time But somehow, for the first time, it really brought home the brutal truth of Geoff’s situation, and the seventy of the problems facing them. What were they going to do?
No answers were forthcoming.
She poured herself a cup of the still-hot coffee from the carafe, wincing a bit at its strength, and walked to the patio door behind the table to stare out at the lake The first thing she had to do was get out of this house before proximity to Geoff engendered more problems. Problems with which she knew she was not prepared to deal.
What had been the name of the woman who owned the bed-and-breakfast? Devon massaged her left temple as though the action could stir the memory to the surface
Eva Wright’ That was it!
Setting her half-finished coffee on the table, she went in search of a phone book. She hoped the bed-and-breakfast had room.
It did She reserved a room for herself and then asked directions
“Do you know where Deer Lake is?” Eva asked.
Devon hesitated “Yes,” she responded slowly.
“Well, we’re on Lake Shore Drive,” Eva said in her slightly breathless voice.
Lake Shore Drive was Geoff’s address. The road stretched all the way from Northridge to the lake and had a number of larger properties along it.
A premonition began to worm its way into her mind and Devon stretched the phone cord to its maximum length as she craned to see out of the living room window. But it was no use, the fir trees blocked any view she might have had of Geoff’s neighbors.
Eva continued. “From Northridge, you just turn north on Lake Shore and
follow it around—you’ll end up heading west—and we’re about halfway down on the left. You can’t miss us. It’s a big old Victorian-style house with a bed-and-breakfast sign in the front yard.”
Now that she thought about it, Devon vaguely remembered passing a large Victorian house just before turning into Geoff’s drive She hadn’t noticed a sign, but then she hadn’t been looking for one. “I see,” Devon responded, feeling a little dazed It was a trifle closer than desirable, but at least she’d be out of Geoff’s house until they worked things out between them.
“Do you think you can find that?” Eva sounded a bit concerned.
“Oh, yes,” Devon murmured. “I’m sure I can.”
“Good. We’ll see you this afternoon then. Bye-bye.”
Devon had just poured herself a fresh cup of coffee and was contemplating the idea of packing her things when she heard the front door open and close. Her heart stuttered and then started up again in double time The clumping sound of boots dropping to the floor was followed by the rattle of hangers in the closet.
And then, Geoff entered the kitchen.
Catching sight of her standing near the patio door, he stopped in midstride. His gaze swept her quickly from head to toe and back again. And then, their eyes locked. Hers wary and vulnerable, his hard and expressionless. “Hi,” he said in that slightly rough tone she still hadn’t gotten used to. “Sorry I had to leave you alone, but one of the local cops wanted to go over some things at the Noralco site with me.”
“Hi.” The word emerged as a hoarse whisper and Devon cleared her throat to find her voice “It’s okay.”
He nodded and his gaze roamed her features Reminding herself that this was not the Geoff she knew, Devon sought out the differences in his appearance. Then, realizing what she was doing, she broke the strange magnetic pull of his attractiveness and sipped her coffee Still, he didn’t move. The fabric of the silence grew taut with strain
Lifting her head once more, she saw an emotion she didn’t recognize in the olive green depths of his eyes. And then, in a flash, it was gone
“Do you want some lunch?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, that’s fine.”
He glanced at the clock “It’s noon,” he said. “We might as well eat while we talk. Come on I’ll take you out for lunch.”
Devon hesitated, all her senses on high alert. In that moment, she detected the subtle scent of his aftershave. Noted the way his chambray shirt fit his broad shoulders Even heard the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. “I’m really not that hungry,” she lied “And I should pack my things.”
“Pack?” he echoed, his tone both questioning and adversarial
She nodded. “Yes. I’m moving into Eva Wright’s Bed-and-Breakfast this afternoon ”
She saw the tension leave his shoulders. “That’s really not necessary. You can stay here.”
“No, I can’t ”
He studied her a moment, then nodded. “All right. But you have to eat.” Picking up her purse from the countertop where she’d left it sitting, he handed it to her and took the coffee cup from her hand, setting it carelessly on the table. “Come on,” he murmured, grasping her arm in a firm hand to lead her from the room
Once again, Devon resisted. She really wasn’t prepared to spend time with him...socially She wanted to talk about all the things that needed to be talked about between them, and then escape She was going to have to call David soon, too. He’d be worried. She should have called last night
Geoff stopped. “Look Unless you want me to pick you up bodily and carry you, you’ll come.”
She stared at him “You wouldn’t!” The idea of being carried by him was...too damned appealing The last thing she needed was a potent male assault like that on her already muddled senses
His expression was uncompromising “I would,” he replied.
Devon believed him. “All right,” she murmured. “I’ll come ”
He flashed her a grin that disappeared all too quickly The boyish gesture revealed, for a fraction of an instant, a softer side to this hard, too-serious man Her heart did a cartwheel. Oh, Lord, what had she nsked by coming here?
Chapter 4
As Geoff closed the cottage door behind them, his imperturbable stranger’s facade was once again solidly in place, and the bnef glimpse at a lighter side to this intense man might never have been Devon felt a peculiar wanness creep into her soul that she had never expected to feel in Geoff’s presence. The Geoff she had married had been exactly what he seemed: a friendly. outgoing man who loved good company, good food and life in general. This man, on the other hand, seemed so reserved and unreachable that discovering his true personality might be more akin to peeling away the layers of an onion. She sensed something cold and hard at his core, but she wasn’t certain she wanted to know him well enough to learn what it was.
Could a head injury change a man that much? Or had something else altered the man she knew?
Geoff held open the door of his Bronco for her to enter, and then moved around the vehicle to get in the driver’s side. “There are three restaurants in Northridge,” he said as he put the keys m the ignition. “The Diner, The Gold Dragon, and the Union Hotel restaurant. The Diner has good old-fashioned burgers, or roast beef. The hotel restaurant has the same, plus a few Italian dishes and take out pizza. And the Gold Dragon is, of course, Chinese food though I think they serve a few burgers too Take your pick.”
Devon stared at him “You used to hate Chinese food.” She added one more small item to the growing list that proved this man was not the Geoff she’d known.
Geoff flashed her an unreadable look as he started the engine. “I did? Why?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea Too much MSG maybe You were always very health conscious.”
He seemed to consider that as he put the vehicle in reverse. “What do you mean by health conscious? Did I jog?”
Devon nodded. She found having to tell him about himself disconcerting. “You jogged five mornings a week for half an hour. You lifted weights three days a week. And whenever you could find time, you sailed, fished or hiked.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I still do most of those things.” Then he added, “But I don’t hate Chinese food. In fact, I rather like it. You want Chinese?”
Devon shook her head. “Actually I think I’d like something lighter. Soup and salad would be great.”
He nodded. “The Diner it is.”
“That’s where I stopped last night to ask for directions to your place,” she offered.
“I figured that must have been how you found me.”
They fell silent for a few moments as Geoff drove the gravel road into Northridge with the speed and confidence of someone who traversed it often. Devon noted a carved cedar sign heralding Wright’s Bed-and-Breakfast on her right and she studied the place with interest. The grounds seemed to occupy a good two acres. In the rear, near the lake, a large white gazebo was visible through the hanging boughs of evergreens. Since the house, which had been painted a pale banana yellow accented by bright teal green, was set back some distance from the road, a long narrow gravel drive looped through the front yard. Her interior decorator’s mind kicked into gear and Devon craned her neck to get a better view of two large circular towerlike structures, attached to the rear corners of the imposing Victorian She suddenly found herself eager to see its interior. Then they were past it, and she focused her gaze forward again.
“Tell me about the kids,” Geoff said abruptly.
Devon looked at him, but he was staring at the road and she could discern no expression. “All right,” she murmured neutrally “I told you that Britanny is nine. She’s in grade four and doing very well. Her favorite subjects are spelling and English Tyler turned twelve in March. He’s in grade six.”
“Does he like school?”
Devon hesitated. “He used to, but...he’s changed a lot in the last couple of years.”
Two years Since his father had disapp
eared from his life. It wouldn’t take much for Geoff to read between the lines and make that connection. “You’ve been having trouble with him?” Geoff s words emerged as half statement, half question.
“Oh, yeah,” Devon returned quietly. “We’ve had our problems.”
Geoff looked over at her. “Tell me.”
Her gaze slid away as she shrugged. “I wouldn’t know where to start. Besides I’m not sure you really want to know.” She smiled cautiously. “You might decide reclaiming your life isn’t worth the trouble.”
Geoff focused on negotiating a curve in the road before looking at her again. “It’s worth it,” he said simply. “Whatever happens, it’s worth it.”
Devon stared at him feeling slightly chastened by the intensity in his eyes, in his tone. What had he endured in the past two years? She swallowed and then focused on the conversation. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I didn’t know where to start. Tyler’s misbehavior has become so constant that I don’t even call him on the small stuff anymore. If I did we’d be fighting constantly.”
“The earring?” Geoff asked.
“Small stuff,” Devon returned.
He nodded. “Do you have any idea why it all started?”
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about that. I think he blames me for your disappearance from our lives.”
Geoff shot her a startled look. “Why?”
“He heard me ask you for a divorce just a day or so before you disappeared The day you told me that you’d invited Spencer and Holly to join us on the fly-in fishing tnp that was originally intended for you and I to be alone together to talk about our marital problems I was so angry that I refused to go, but—since you had business to discuss with Spencer—you went ahead with your plans. Anyway, Tyler heard our argument Later, he raged at me that it was my fault you went away. I tried to explain the situation to him, but..I don’t think he understood.”
“So Tyler and I were close?”
Devon nodded. “Up until the last six months we were together. Then you withdrew from everyone, including Tyler ”
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