“Yeah.” She waited, letting him come around to open her door for her. She needed the minute to compose herself. Every muscle in her body felt weak, as if she’d just run a marathon. Her heart still raced.
He opened the door and cool air swirled around her. She took his hand and followed him into the Handlebar. In that moment, she needed to admit to herself that she wanted to follow him wherever he led.
Amazingly, he could walk.
Nickolai could barely breathe, so the ability to put one foot in front of the other had been a very surprising reality. Quite astonishing he could do anything with Landry in such close proximity. He could smell her indelible shampoo and body wash. He could feel the soft lines of the small of her back under his hand. He could sense her movements just by being close to her.
Everything had changed with one kiss. One earth-shattering, world-spinning, steal-his-heart kiss.
While they waited to be seated, Nickolai couldn’t look at her. Had he really kissed her? He felt like he’d lost part of himself, and he didn’t quite know how to deal with that at the moment.
The same hostess as the other day sat them out on the patio, as per their request. They ended up at the same table as before. The waitress, again, same as last time, came quickly and took their drink orders. They both ordered the green chili burgers with extra bacon. Déjà vu but not …
Except everything felt new. The colors looked brighter, more vibrant. The pecan smoke smelled stronger, almost where he could taste the flavor. The conversations of the other patrons formed a symphony of voices with different pitches and lyrics.
His eyes met Landry’s, and while his pulse throbbed, heat burned his face. Did she regret kissing him? Was he making a big deal out of nothing? What if she’d just been excited because of Lisbeth’s becoming a Christian?
“Nickolai.” Her voice spoke to him on a deeper, stronger level than before.
“I’m so—” No, he wasn’t going to diminish his emotions. Not right now. He was raw, and if he got hurt, at least he’d be hurt by honesty. “I’m not sorry for kissing you.”
She grinned, her face turning a little pink. “Well, I’m happy to hear that because I’m not sorry for kissing you back.”
A strange feeling rose up from his toes and bubbled into his chest. “Okay, then.”
The waitress returned with their drinks. “Your burgers will be out soon.”
“Oh, Stan came to see me earlier,” Landry said as she took a sip of her drink.
“What?”
She nodded and set her glass back on the table. “He told me about his affair with Winifred many years ago. It was a one-time thing and nearly destroyed him. Bartholomew never knew, and Stan respected their marriage vows explicitly from that day forward.”
“He told you all that, huh?”
“He did, and I believe him. I’m pretty good at reading people.” She reached across the table and touched his hand. Just that one touch made it hard for him to concentrate. “Think about it, Nick; he wasn’t hurting for money, your partner told you that. He and Bartholomew hadn’t had any disagreements or arguments; no one has said they ever had cross words. Taking all that into consideration, what would be Stan’s motive to kill Bartholomew and steal the map?” She pulled her hand back to her side of the table, taking another drink.
Had she called him Nick? Using a pet name indicated intimacy. How, exactly, did she feel about him? Now wasn’t the time to discuss, but his mind wouldn’t stop circling back to the possibilities.
“But Stan had been pushing Bartholomew to retire, right?”
Landry nodded. “Monica told me he had been. I asked Stan. He said he knew Winifred wanted to travel and spend more time with Bartholomew. That’s what he’d been encouraging—Bartholomew to spend less time at the office and more time with his wife.”
Logical, but … “What about his and Phillip’s argument?”
She toyed with her straw as she talked. “According to Stan, Phillip’s been in love with Winifred since before she married Bartholomew. He’s stayed around because of her.”
“Chris said he’d never married.”
“What if he carried a torch for her all this time?”
Nickolai nodded. “But why now? Why murder Bartholomew now? If he’s been in love with Winifred all these years, why hadn’t he acted before?”
She let out a long breath. “That’s the one thing I haven’t worked out yet.”
“You’re saying Phillip is your main suspect?”
“Right now? Yes. Call it a hunch. Gut feeling. Whatever. I just don’t trust him.”
Nickolai laughed. “I like him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s a suspect. Then again, there’s not an apparent motive for murdering his best friend right now.”
“What if he hadn’t known about Winifred and Stan’s affair until recently? It sent him into such a rage.”
Nickolai shook his head. “A rage that made him murder his best friend? Not buying that. He would’ve killed Stan.”
She nodded. “True. Still, I’m not ruling him out as a suspect.”
The waitress returned with their burgers. Landry immediately bowed her head and began to pray. Nickolai sat still, wishing he could hear what she said. For Lisbeth, of course. Not for him.
Landry finished and took a big bite of the burger. She closed her eyes as she chewed, clearly savoring every different spice and taste. Nickolai had never met a woman who enjoyed food as much as Landry.
He’d never met a woman like her, period.
Landry wiped her mouth and swallowed. “So, if it’s not Phillip or Stan, or anybody else in Bartholomew’s personal life, then it comes back to the motive being the map.”
Nickolai nodded. “It seems to. Maybe we should have another talk with the original owner, Joel Easton.”
“Do you think he knows something you didn’t ask?”
“Can’t hurt to talk to him again. Maybe something will hit you that I missed.”
She smiled and took another bite. He did as well. The chipotle tingled his tongue, but not more than Landry Parker seemed to have tingled deep within him.
Oh, Chris was going to have a field day with this. He’d tried to set Nickolai up on date after date, only to tell him that he was too picky. No woman could meet Nickolai’s standards and expectations.
Just wait until he met Landry Parker. Oh, was his former partner and friend in for a surprise. A mighty big one.
Just as she’d blown Nickolai out of the water, leaving him feeling like he flapped about without a hope of recovering.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Landry surveyed the Ironwood Cancer and Research Center in Gilbert, Arizona. It was a beautiful building in a very peaceful location.
“Come on, I know where his mother’s room is.” Nickolai led her across the parking lot.
“Are you sure this is okay? I would hate to bust in and upset his mother.” Landry wanted to get answers, of course, but she didn’t want to impose on a woman battling cancer. After what she went through with both her parents and their illnesses, the last thing she would do is intrude.
“Last time we came outside to talk so we wouldn’t disturb his mother. He’ll most likely want to do the same today.”
She nodded and let him open the front door for her.
A blond receptionist sat behind the front counter. She gave Landry the stink eye but smiled as she caught sight of Nickolai.
“Hello again,” she greeted him.
“Hi. Hoping I didn’t miss Joel.” They’d discussed on the drive over that if he wasn’t here, they’d just have to wait on him because neither had a good address for him.
“They’ve finished lunch and I believe he’s reading to her.”
“Thanks. I remember where her room is.” Nickolai flashed a full smile at her. “Thanks.”
The receptionist all but swooned. Landry could relate. Did the man have any idea how lethal his smile could be? Mercy!
She almost couldn’t believe
this place housed sick people. As Nickolai led Landry to Mrs. Easton’s room, she couldn’t smell the usual scent of death and illness. She didn’t hear the beepings of various life-supporting machines or the painful groanings of patients nearing the end of their life. She’d had enough of all that with her parents’ illnesses and treatments. But not here. No, this place had the feel more of an upscale retirement home or faculty housing of some sort.
Nickolai stopped by the door with Mrs. Easton’s name. He gave her a quick smile then knocked softly.
“Come in,” a woman’s voice came from the other side.
Nickolai gently pushed open the door.
A woman sat up in the bed, wearing a bright bed jacket with colorful hydrangeas depicted. Silver hair tips peeked out from under a fuchsia-colored scarf. Her lipstick matched the brightness of the scarf.
Joel Easton, looking just like he had in the video surveillance photographs, sat in a chair beside the bed, holding a very worn, black leather Bible.
“We’re sorry for disturbing you.” Nickolai looked at Joel. “Perhaps we could talk outside again?”
“No, you can speak in here,” the woman said. “I’m Abigail Easton, Joel’s mother. He told me about you, Mr. Baptiste.” She looked at Landry. “And who might you be?”
Landry pushed past Nickolai and offered her hand. “I’m Landry Parker. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Easton.”
The woman’s grip was firmer than Landry had expected. “Please, call me Abigail.” She included Nickolai in her gaze. “Joel told me about your visit last time. What is it now?”
“We’re very sorry for disturbing you,” Landry began.
Abigail chuckled. “Honey, when you’re in a hospital, no matter how nice, you look forward to anything that disrupts your normal routine.”
Landry liked her. “We’re here to see if we missed anything about the map.”
“My heavens, that map has been nothing more than a calamity to my family.”
“Mom!”
“It’s true, Joel, and you know it. Caused so much strife. Brother against brother. Husband against wife. Father against son.” She smiled sadly at Joel with her last comment. “I’m thankful we had it to sell for my treatment, of course, but I’m glad it’s out of our family.” Abigail shook her head. “And now to learn that the poor buyer was murdered. Well, I guess the rumors of the curse might be true.”
“Curse?” Nickolai moved closer to where Landry stood beside the bed.
“Please, you two sit down. You’re making my neck hurt looking up at you.” She waved them to other chairs from her bed.
Landry and Nickolai sat. “You said something about a curse?” Nickolai asked.
“Momma doesn’t believe in curses.” Joel frowned at his mother.
“I believe in verbal blessings handed down from father to son, as it’s written in the good book, so why wouldn’t I believe in curses, the opposite?” She shook her head and looked at Landry. “Do you have a son?”
“No. No, ma’am. I don’t have any children.”
“Just wait. Sons are such a joy, but they are also a major pain in the behind sometimes.”
Landry pressed her lips together to keep the laughter inside. Yes, she did really like this woman.
“Anyway, back when our Julia Thomas got the map from Jacob Waltz, legends say the ghost warrior Indians cursed the map. They tried to steal it several times, so I’ve heard. It’s been passed down from generation to generation that whoever uses the map to try and find the mine will meet with imminent death.” Abigail fingered the edge of her scarf. “They say the map is to be given to the ghost warriors of the mountain to be destroyed. That’s the only way the curse will be lifted.”
“I hadn’t heard that,” Landry barely whispered.
“I’ve wondered if my cancer might not be because the map came into my possession.”
“Mom, that’s just plain silly talk. No map gave you cancer.” Joel reached over and took his mother’s hand.
Landry agreed with Joel. As a Christian, accepting cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease … all deadly illnesses was hard, very hard. She didn’t understand it, hadn’t since her mother had gotten sick and died. Certainly hadn’t when her father’s mind and memories had been stolen. But she’d always known that despite the diseases and suffering, God was with them. With her parents. With her. Even with the medical personnel. She had to believe that. She’d felt that.
God could and would use anything for His plans. She had to believe that.
Nickolai looked at Joel. “We were wondering if there was anything you remembered about the map or the sale that you didn’t already tell me or the police?”
“I can’t think of anything. I told you about Allen and the hacking—”
“I’m still ashamed that you would do such a thing,” Abigail interrupted.
“I know, Mom. I’m sorry.” He looked at Nickolai and shook his head. “I can’t think of anything else.”
“What about before you got the map? Who had it before? Had anyone shown interest in buying it before you put it up for sale?” Landry asked. If the map was the motive for Bartholomew’s murder, then there had to be something they didn’t know. There just had to!
“My father had the map before he passed it on to me,” Abigail said. “He and my mother fought over it. My father and his brother were convinced they could find the mine and be rich.” She shook her head. “My uncle died out in the Superstitions while hunting for the mine.” She shrugged. “It was ruled an accident … he lost his footing and fell, breaking his leg. He died from exposure and being bitten by a rattlesnake. But who knows if the curse didn’t kill him?”
“Mom, don’t get all worked up over this.”
“I’m not worked up, son. I’m glad that map’s gone. I should’ve sold it to Phil when he wanted to buy it.”
Landry’s gut free-fell to her toes. “Phil?”
She nodded. “A couple of years ago, right before I really got bad sick, my family doctor introduced me to my oncologist who hadn’t even moved out to Arizona yet. He was finishing up with his patients and still practicing in Louisiana. LSUS Medical Center. Anyway, I met him and we hit it off, and I decided I wanted him to be my doctor. Since I needed to start treatment immediately, I went to Shreveport for treatment until Dr. Martin moved to Arizona as planned. He was getting married to an Arizona girl, which was why he was moving.”
“Your doctor is Phil?” Nickolai asked.
Abigail chuckled. “No, I guess I went down a rabbit hole a bit there, didn’t I? No, I met Phil at LSUS Medical Center. He was being treated for prostate cancer. We struck up a conversation and became friendly. During the course of several visits over the next few months, our appointments seemed to be on the same day and close to the same times. We would often walk across the street to eat a burger together or just grab a cup of coffee. We talked about many things, but one day I mentioned the curse maybe being the cause of my cancer, which led to me telling him all about the map. On the next visit, Phil said he’d done a little research and was intrigued because he was a treasure hunter.”
“Isn’t everyone if they think they can make a fast buck?” Joel fluffed his mother’s pillow.
But Landry ignored Joel. “So he’d researched the map?” she pressed Abigail.
The older woman nodded. “He said he’d buy the map from me, curse and all, for half a million dollars.” Abigail smiled. “I refused of course, laughed him off. He kept upping the price and I kept telling him no. It became quite a thing between us.”
“You never told me all that, Mom.”
She shrugged. “It wasn’t all that important. I got sicker and Dr. Martin moved to Arizona and I didn’t see Phil again.” Abigail looked at Landry. “He did call me, just after I gave the map to Joel to sell.”
“What did he say?” Landry sat on the edge of her chair.
“It surprised me, because it was out of the blue. He didn’t really chitchat much. Asked how I was doing. Told
me he’d been cancer-free since just after I left. And then he asked me if I would sell him the map again. I told him I’d already given it to my son to sell. He asked why I hadn’t given him the first option to buy it, and I told him the truth. That I hadn’t thought about him since I stopped going to Shreveport.”
“Do you think this Phil is Phillip?” Landry barely waited until they’d hit the parking lot before she asked him.
“I do. It’d make a lot of sense. It’d be a stretch of coincidence, but I’ve seen stranger things connected by less.” Nickolai helped her into the Jeep then rushed to get behind the steering wheel.
“I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Then what will you call it? If Phil is Phillip. That Abigail’s doctor referred her to an oncologist that hadn’t even started practicing in Arizona, but that she just knew was the doctor for her. That she made the trips from Arizona to Louisiana several times and just happened to meet Phillip. That Phillip would be seeing the same Dr. Martin at the same time Abigail was going for appointments.” Nickolai shook his head. “The coincidences are stacked up against realism.”
“But you said you believe Phil is Phillip.”
He nodded again. “I do. I can’t explain it, but it would fit and make sense of the rest.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences.”
He turned to her. “Do you believe Phil is Phillip?”
“I think so.”
“But not filled with all those coincidences?”
She shook her head, knowing that even if she explained, he wouldn’t understand. Wouldn’t accept, but she had to believe that God used people and situations for His will. “But Shreveport? There’s a great cancer hospital right in New Orleans. Why would Phillip go to Shreveport?”
“I can’t answer that one yet.” He started the engine and turned on the vents then picked up his cell and called Chris. He put the phone on speaker as he backed out of the parking space.
“Baptiste. You’re calling me more now that you aren’t my partner than when you were.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Listen, I need another favor.”
Weaver's Needle Page 24