Till The Dead Speak (Killer Affections Book 2)

by Jerrie Alexander

  Maybe she’d never understand Charlie or his motives, but he’d loved her grandmother, and Samantha had to do this for them.

  “Front door delivery,” Nana said, stopping the car at the curb.

  “I can never thank you enough.” She leaned across her car and hugged Nana.

  “Nonsense. I’m glad you’re finally having that adventure you deserve.”

  Samantha moved through the airport, cleared security, entered the airplane, and took her seat without thought. Her nerves were rock solid calm as she closed her eyes and slept through the three hour flight.

  Now, standing next to the luggage carousel, she remembered the day Linc saved her from being run down. She shook of thoughts of him and concentrated on getting her suitcases and making her way to the car rental location.

  After the rental attendant provided a quick lesson on operating the top of the bright red Mustang convertible, Samantha loosened the tight roll of hair from the back of her head and drove away. The drive out the Pacific Coast Highway triggered memories of the first time she’d seen the ocean. It all seemed to have happened a long time ago.

  She drove straight to Dave and Maggie’s apartment. Samantha didn’t know their financial situation, but understood they couldn’t just wait around until the restaurant reopened. If she put Dave on salary, maybe he’d stay on. His knowledge would be invaluable. She called Ham on the way. He agreed to contact the insurance company and get that process started.

  She knocked and Maggie opened the door.

  “Come in.” Maggie quickly stepped back. “Dave, it’s Sam.”

  Dave came from the kitchen, drying his hands. “I’d say welcome back, but it sounds so inappropriate.” He motioned Samantha to the living room couch.

  Seated in the small living room, she finally got to ask questions. “Do you know any more than when I spoke to you yesterday?”

  “Nothing, except what we saw on the news. Did you drive by The Cage?”

  “I didn’t. I wanted to speak with you two first.”

  “We love that place. It just broke our hearts,” Maggie said.

  “That’s what I wanted to speak with you both about. I’m going to rebuild.”

  “Outstanding. We hoped you would.” Dave’s face lit up with a smile.

  “But I don’t know a thing about construction, not even where to start. What do we do now?”

  “Once the fire marshal releases the site, you’ll have to hire a cleanup crew, but not until I’ve picked through to see what can be saved.” Dave scooted to the edge of the couch. “Some of the memorabilia might be salvageable.”

  Samantha couldn’t envision all the work ahead. “Your help would be invaluable to me. I’d like to keep you on the payroll. That is if you want in on this project.”

  “We want in,” Dave said.

  “It may take a few days to get things rolling, but Ham’s already on it.”

  Dave glanced at his wife and received a nod. “You’re the boss. Point me in the right direction.”

  “As my daddy used to say, we begin at the beginning. I’ll ask Ham for construction company recommendations. I want an update from the police.”

  “You think that Dylan guy had something to do with it?” Maggie asked.

  “I wouldn’t put it past him. He all but threatened me but never insinuated something might happen to the restaurant. And why burn the house, too?” Samantha stood. “I’m stopping by The Cage on my way out. I’m registered at the Malibu Shores Motel. Call if you need me.”

  Want company while you survey the damage?” Dave said.

  “I would.” She was glad he’d offered.

  “I’ll stay here,” Maggie said. “I’ve seen it already, and it breaks my heart.”

  “I understand.” Samantha hugged Maggie and then followed Dave outside.

  “Let’s take my rental.” Samantha pointed at the car.

  “Cool car. It’s perfect for you.” Dave vaulted over the closed door. “You like a convertible, huh?”

  “I love it. My hair…not so much.” She ignored his veiled reference to Linc’s car and quickly drove away. The first red light they stopped for, she asked the question about to burn a hole in the brain. “Why didn’t Linc call me?”

  “I’m sorry, I should’ve told you right away. He was pretty upset last night. Monday’s a slow day and he said something to Maggie about going to the mountains to clear his head. I started to call him back but there’s nothing he could do.”

  “You did the right thing. The Cage is my problem, not his.” She finished the drive, parked and got out.

  Samantha wasn’t prepared for the amount of destruction she saw as she walked around the perimeter, staying outside the yellow tape. In her wildest imagination, she hadn’t pictured the extent of the damage. The kitchen no longer existed. Charred wood and misshapen pieces of metal were strewn across the parking lot. She couldn’t tell what some of the pieces were. The front of the building, where she’d hoped some of the structure had survived, barely stood. The explosion had sent broken shards of glass outward, scattered across the ground. Every chair, table, and countertop that hadn’t burned appeared to be covered with soot or damp with water. Samantha understood that the firefighters couldn’t take a chance on the wind catching an ember and the fire spreading.

  “The office,” she exclaimed as she ducked under the yellow tape and waded through the rubble. Stepping over wet trash, she found part of a kitchen storage bin blocking her path. She tried to move it, but it didn’t budge. Dave joined her and together they shoved it out of the way. The desk, chairs, cabinets…nothing was left. The metal file cabinets were intact but damaged. Maybe she could salvage some of the pictures of Charlie and his guests.

  “We’d better get back outside the tape,” Dave said.

  “Of course. I wasn’t thinking.”

  Dave bent and picked up a warped beer mug on their way out. “I think I have a beach towel in the trunk. We can clean the smut off our shoes before getting back in the rental.”

  “Thank you.”

  Samantha cleaned her sandals as best she could and then Dave did the same to his tennis shoes. “I just can’t stop staring at the rubble.”

  “It’s gut wrenching for sure.”

  Samantha blinked back the burst of tears threatening to gush down her cheeks. She wished Linc were here. She needed the strength he’d provide. She gathered her courage and lifted her head. “It’s probably best Linc hasn’t seen this. He needs to get his head right before returning to work.”

  Dave stepped in front of her and looked her straight in her eyes. Then he backed away and walked around her in a circle. One eyebrow arched as he studied her. His serious expression vanished as he broke into a huge grin.

  “What are you doing?” She squirmed under his scrutiny.

  “You’re in love with Linc.” Dave grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her in for a bear hug. “I’ll just be damned…Maggie was right. She said you had fallen for Linc.”

  “Maggie’s imagination has run away with her. I came to get this business up and running, and no matter what it takes. I will get done.”

  “Ah. Ha.” He shook his finger at her. “You didn’t deny it. God knows he doesn’t deserve you. Hell, that’s why he was so pissy last night. He’s in love with you too! Give him time, he’ll come around.”

  “Do you need an official denial? I am not in love with him. Or anyone else for that matter. We’ve got work to do. I suggest we get busy.”

  “I’m just saying,” Dave mumbled as he backed away.

  “Do you have time to go with me to check on the house?”

  “Sure.” Dave walked with her to the car. “Until we get started rebuilding, I have nothing but time.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Sitting in Ham’s outer office, Samantha studied her to-do list. He’d taken time from his busy schedule and worked on a lot of things not related to his being her attorney. No doubt his expertise had expedited the process, because she’d picked
up the police report and met the adjuster two days after her return. Then they’d started a search for a contractor and had secured bids on the repair.

  It never failed to warm her heart when he popped out of his office looking like Santa in a pinstriped suit. His presence somehow brightened the day.

  “Come in, Samantha. I’m sorry you had to wait. I wanted to do one last thing before we got started.”

  “Please don’t apologize. You’ve done so much already. Charlie had a wonderful friend in you, and now I do too.”

  Ham’s cheeks turned pink. “I have news about the man the police found in your parking lot. He’s unconscious at the Trauma Center at the Merryville Hospital. His burns are secondary to his other injuries. They wouldn’t tell me anything else. Sorry.”

  “Wow. You learned a lot.” Samantha was impressed with his contacts.

  “I have my sources.” Ham smiled.

  She jumped when her cell sang to her. “I should have silenced it.”

  “Please…answer it. I’ll get us a coffee.” He stood to leave.

  Shaking her head, she let it go to voicemail. “My grandmother will understand. She knows everything that’s happened and is behind me one hundred percent. In fact, she’s in Texas handling my moving arrangements so I can be here. You misjudged her from the start. She thought Charlie had abandoned her alone and pregnant. There was a lot more to their story than anybody knew.”

  Ham removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I was angry at her the day you came for the reading of the will. I’m sorry for the way I acted. I assumed she’d callously broken Charlie’s heart, but I was very wrong.”

  “I think Charlie might’ve been punishing himself for not finding her when they were young.”

  “I had assumed there was a family riff since you never visited, but it wasn’t until we drew up his will that he told me he’d never met you. Refused to allow me to reach out to you until after his death. Looking back, I realize how little I knew about his past.”

  “It hurts if I dwell on it. And I don’t have time to sulk about it.”

  “To business then. I’ve compiled a list of companies for us to contact.”

  “Does the insurance company require I use one of these companies?”

  “Not at all,” Ham said with a chuckle. “They’re preferred…not mandatory.”

  “Then I want to look at small, local companies. I want a separate builder for the house and the restaurant. The Cage is my priority but I want to look at a few blueprints for the house. I’m hoping with fall coming, things will slow down and I can get a quick rebuild done.”

  He chuckled. “You’ll find that we don’t have much of a fall.” He drew a line under two names. “I think these two will fit your requirements.”

  She called and after a brief conversation, she’d set up appointments with both owners to meet her at Ham’s office. “I’ve asked Dave to contact Hector and the rest of the staff. They must be wondering what’s going to happen.” Samantha rolled her head, releasing a few of the knots in her neck.

  “Remember to call your grandmother. Tell her I apologize for my behavior.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “Thank you.” He winked and nodded at her.

  She had to stop comparing him to Santa Claus, because just now, she’d half expected him to disappear. Samantha called her grandmother from the car. If she planned to follow Samantha’s belongings and stay in the area, she might be willing to help with the reconstruction. With her impeccable taste, Nana was the perfect person to select dishes, silverware, and glassware, and everything else that had to be replaced.

  She needed Linc, damn him. If he was so enamored with The Cage, how could he stay away this long?

  Her grandmother answered on the first ring. “Samantha, a quick question. I need a delivery address. Have you rented a storage unit?”

  It’s on my list. I’m in Ham’s office right now. He sends his apology for being rude to you.”

  “We all make mistakes.” Nana paused a beat. “The moving company took a little convincing, but they’ve agreed to expedite your move so get me that address.”

  “I’ll text it to you this afternoon.”

  “Good. And, the good news is that your car will be delivered next week.”

  “You rock. I promise to reimburse you for everything.” Samantha gathered her courage to ask for even more favors. “Are you coming out here?”

  “As soon as the moving van drives away, I’ll catch a cab to the airport.”

  “I sure could use somebody with your good taste to help with the interior design. I want to stick to the original theme but bigger and better.”

  Nana’s soft chuckle sent waves of relief across Samantha’s shoulders. “I was hoping you’d ask. I’ll start pulling ideas together.”

  “I love you.”

  “Back at you.”

  Samantha set her cell down and picked up a pen and pad from the table. It was time to start making lists.

  Ham returned with two coffees. “And how is your grandmother?”

  “Wonderful. She wasn’t upset with you but appreciated the apology.” Samantha added cream to her cup and stirred. “I can’t shake the feeling that Linc didn’t just vanish. He’d made promises to Charlie. If he’d gone home to for a visit, he’d have let Dave know.” Suddenly, icy fingers started at the base of her spine, snaking their way to the base of her skull. “I want to see this unconscious man in the hospital.”

  Ham’s eyes widened. “That was an abrupt shift. Why do you want to see this man?”

  “What if the unidentified man is Linc?”

  “What? Where did that idea come from?

  “My gut. It doesn’t make sense that he’d stay gone this long. He was going to help Dave. Besides, he should be here getting ready to go back to work.”

  “I’m sure they ran his fingerprints.”

  “Please?”

  I don’t know if you’ll be allowed to visit him, but I’ll see what I can do.” Ham stood. “Let me make a call.”

  A few minutes later, they were in his car and exiting the parking garage. The traffic was horrendous and reminded her of Dallas. The confusing streets, speeding cars whizzing on and off the freeway made her feel at home. At last, Ham drove into a parking garage the size of Rhode Island and found a spot close to a side entry.

  “I appreciate you driving me. It’s going to take me a while to find my bearings.”

  “My pleasure.” He smiled at her as if there’d been nothing to it. They boarded the elevator and Ham pushed the button for the seventh floor. “Lieutenant Garner is expecting us. I’m just not sure we’ll accomplish anything.”

  Maybe they wouldn’t. Maybe Linc was working at the apple farm. Maybe she should admit that she was grabbing at straws. Had his dedication to Charlie been a lie? Why hadn’t Linc reached out to her?

  The doors swished open, and she almost ran into a man the size of a football lineman. “I’m sorry.”

  “Samantha Anderson, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Phil Garner.” Ham looked like a proud papa. “My son-in-law and contact with the police department,” he added.

  “Call me Phil. It’s nice to meet you.” His bear paw of a hand wrapped around hers in a handshake that jarred her teeth. Towering over her, his dark hair with a smattering of gray at his temples hinted at his age. Dark brown eyes told her he could be hard if the situation warranted it.

  “My pleasure. I appreciate you meeting us here.”

  Phil turned and gathered his father-in-law into his arms, almost hiding Ham’s plump frame from view. “You have time for lunch?”

  Ham shook his head. “Not today.”

  “Then let’s do this.” Phil started down the hall. “The results on his prints should come back today. He isn’t going anywhere, so we didn’t put a rush on them.”

  Cold, sterile air engulfed Samantha as they walked down the hall, the medicinal odors sending her stomach churning. Approaching the third door, she cou
ld see someone lying on his side facing the wall. A bandage covered the back of his head, but there was no hiding the blonde hair swirling every direction. Samantha’s knees almost crumbled.

  “It’s Linc. Oh. My. God.” Tears stung her eyes, but she bit them back.

  Ham put his hand on her shoulder. “She’s right. This man didn’t start the fire. If he was there, he was trying to put it out.”

  “I’ll need more information, but we’ll get this straightened out,” Phil said from the doorway.

  The thought of Linc lying alone in a coma, mistaken for the arsonist, sickened her. Samantha moved to the far side of the bed. His face was pale and still as death. She pushed his off his forehead.

  “Linc,” she whispered, leaning close to his ear. “It’s Samantha. Listen to me. I need you to come back.” Ham set a chair behind her, and she scooted it close to the bed. “Wake up, now. Okay?” She laid her cheek to his. Waves of fear and panic opened a floodgate of tears that slid from her eyes onto his cheek.

  “The doctor’s here.” Ham offered her the use of his handkerchief.

  “I understand we have clarification as to the patient’s identification.” His white jacket, almost the color of Linc’s skin, sharply contrasted his dark hair and dark brown eyes.

  “We certainly do.” She wiped her cheeks and stood.

  “Dr. Sherrill.” He strode further into the room with an air of superiority followed by Ham’s son-in-law.

  Samantha mustered up a smile. “What can you tell us about his condition?”

  “You’re his wife?” Dr. Sherrill asked.

  “Yes,” she answered without hesitation, afraid he’d clam up if she’d told the truth. “This is his attorney, Hamilton Davis.”

  Dr. Sherrill nodded at Ham. “Mr. Hawkins’ burns will leave minimal scaring. He’s receiving antibiotics to prevent infection and saline to replace any fluids lost.”

  “The blow to his head?”

  “Fortunately, there’s been no swelling of the brain. To be on the safe side, we’re administering oxygen to increase the rate and depth of breathing. “