Amber Affairs

by Patricia Rice

Aaron headed for the door. “Impressed the hell out of us. I tested Amber’s shop after the break-in. Whoever did it didn’t leave any significant impressions. I found spikes of anger and fear on the drawers they yanked open that weren’t Amber’s, but they’re not identifiable.”

  Josh wasn’t certain what to say to that. The other men didn’t seem to find the declaration odd. “Anger,” he acknowledged, wondering what that should tell him. “Sounds like her mother.”

  Aaron shrugged. “I have to get back to my shop. I just wanted to let you know I’m on the team for whatever is decided. Amber is one of the purest souls I’ve ever met, and I’m relieved that you haven’t deceived her.” He ambled out.

  Glancing outside, Monty caught the door before it closed. “Looks like we’ve got a stranger roaming about. I’ll give them my good ol’ boy routine. Let me know what needs doing and when.” He followed Aaron out.

  Josh watched through the window as the mayor glad-handed the reporter he’d seen earlier. “I think I’m more officially weirded now than I was last night.”

  “It used to be Nulls like me and Monty against Lucys like Aaron and Harvey,” Kurt Kennedy admitted. “We’re still learning to work with the people we know. It will take a while before we stop questioning outsiders like you.”

  “It’s hard to trust those you don’t know, I get that.” Josh jingled the coins in his pocket as he worked out the concept. “But it’s like you’re a closed society up here. You fear strangers and put up walls to close us out. I think history has kind of proved that insular societies not only don’t work but invariably fail. The rest of the world moves on without them.”

  “Which is what happened after my father drove out everyone with his crooked land deals. Hillvale closed its doors and crumbled. And there are those who want to go back to the insular days, who think the rash of murders is good reason for doing so.” Kurt paced around the room, checking the studs and wiring. “Superstition and paranoia go hand in hand.”

  “But without tourists, without new business, we can’t afford schools, and the few businesses left will go broke,” Keegan added. “I have a small crystal mine back in the hills. I need workers. They need houses. They have kids. They need schools. So we have to get used to dealing with newcomers.”

  Josh gestured helplessly. “I get that. Hillvale now welcomes immigrants. How does this solve Willa’s murder?”

  “That’s what we’re here for,” the chief of police said, propping his boots up on a stack of lumber and settling in. “We want a reputation of catching anyone who thinks they can get away with murder here. Willa’s secretary, Sarah, reported to the sheriff last night that Willa’s phone contained a spy virus that allows it to be located even when turned off. She won’t say how she found that out, but she said the phone seems to still be here in Hillvale.”

  Twenty-one

  “I can’t promise you’ll meet the love of your life today, but this card tells me that if you open your heart and your mind, the potential is there.” Amber tapped the card the excited bridesmaid had drawn. “You have a warm heart and a good nature and you’re a gift to any man smart enough to see that.”

  The bridesmaid was skinny and plain, even in her wedding finery. But she was glowing with happiness and exuding such joy that she would brighten any man’s life. And Amber sensed the girl was aware of someone she’d just met. Amber thought it a shame that most of the men in the wedding party wouldn’t visit the tarot shop. She’d love to find a match for the bridesmaid.

  The wedding today was scheduled for three, so Amber had no appointments over lunch or for some hours after. She put up her cards, stretched, and returned to the front of the shop where the security Josh had miraculously produced waited.

  “Are you bored out of your skulls?” she inquired of the two unlikely shopkeepers.

  Behind the counter, the older lady with short-cropped spiky hair grinned toothily. “I’m having the time of my life. Those reporters now know all about my former job, my grandkids, my gambling habits. . . I kept them entertained.”

  The burly, bald bodyguard propped in a chair between the crystal figurines, looking like the proverbial bull, grunted what might have been amusement. “She bored them to death until they crawled out in tears of relief when she stopped talking.”

  “I even sold a bunch of crystals and walking sticks,” the woman crowed. “That bridal party is flinging cash all over. Maybe I’ll start a shop up here too. Retirement is boring.”

  “I am extremely grateful that you are willing to come out of retirement to help me. I don’t usually need outside help, but the café across the street always does, if you’re really thinking of staying. Shall we close up shop, go over there, and I’ll treat you to lunch?” She didn’t know how she’d repay Josh for his extraordinary gesture. She’d never had employees before and wasn’t certain what to do with them, but she loved having this barrier against her mother and reporters.

  “Nah, tell me what you want and I’ll go over and get it.” The burly guard set the front legs of the chair down. “The boss said we’re to keep you out of sight, but if you want to go anywhere, we can drive you.”

  Amber wrinkled her nose. For Zeke’s sake, she supposed she could stay out of sight until the press decided they had no story. It was not as if she was front page news anymore.

  “Are you okay with fetching my nephew and dropping us at my house? He needs to stay out of sight too.” As far as Amber knew, her mother was still at the lodge. That couldn’t be good.

  “Sure, I can do that and fetch lunch for him too.” Oscar unfurled from his chair.

  “Okay if I stay here?” the female guard asked. “I can eat at the desk and keep an eye on things.”

  While they waited for food, Amber called Josh’s suite to see how he’d fared. Ernest informed her that Josh had disappeared hours ago, after the press conference, so he assumed he was at the studio apartment. Needing to see how Zeke was doing, she rang him there. Zeke answered. He hadn’t seen Josh but was happy to have a ride down for lunch. Frowning, she hung up. She couldn’t imagine there were too many places Josh might visit in Hillvale. Maybe, after the press conference, he’d decided to take out his frustrations on his rented bike again. He used to pick fights when he was tense. Exercise was a far better alternative.

  After collecting their order and driving up to fetch Zeke, the burly guard parked his SUV in Amber’s narrow driveway. “I’ll eat out here, if it’s all the same to you, ma’am. I’ve got my audiobook, and I can keep a better eye on who’s around.”

  Carrying lunch sacks, Zeke was already halfway out of the van.

  “If you need anything, you be sure to let me know,” Amber said, climbing out after the boy. “I must be a really boring job.”

  “Each one is different, ma’am. I’m fond of the ones where I’m not likely to get my butt shot off.”

  Amber chuckled and followed a bouncing Zeke to the door. She hated that she had to actually lock it all the time now, but the keypad Walker had installed made it easier than hunting down keys.

  Music played from the wedding further up the hill. This party hadn’t hired Val or Harvey. They must have brought their own musicians.

  “Aunt Amber,” Zeke said worriedly, studying her tiled front porch as she punched the keypad. “Look.”

  She glanced down, expecting to see a large spider or snake. Instead, she saw drops of what at first appeared to be brown paint.

  “I think it’s blood,” Zeke said somberly.

  After the exceedingly entertaining meeting with the police chief’s weird squad, Josh let himself into the lodge suite, eager to call Amber.

  Instead, he almost fell over suitcases.

  “We need to go back to LA now,” Ernest shouted from the living area, where he packed up a laptop. “This isn’t amusing anymore.”

  Josh’s throat closed. He glanced around. Finding no bodies, he shut the door behind him. “What now?”

  “Sarah’s dead. I could be next.” Ernest shaki
ly pointed at the phone. “Call Amber. I have our bags packed. You need to make her pack too. I’m starting to believe this place is evil.”

  Sarah? What the hell?

  Josh grabbed the receiver but Amber’s home line was busy. He tried the shop. A gruff, unfamiliar voice answered and said Amber wasn’t there. She wouldn’t tell him where Amber was until Josh told her she’d be fired, and Ernest got on the line and explained who he was.

  “She said she was taking her nephew up to a studio,” the now-friendlier voice replied. “I’m supposed to shut up the shop, but I’m doing real good business. What would you like me to do?”

  Josh rubbed his head and tried to think through the red haze of panic. “If you don’t mind staying where you are, then hold down the fort. We don’t want thieves returning.”

  He hung up and glared at the bags Ernest was collecting. “Will you tell me what the hell happened?”

  “Sarah was murdered in broad daylight on Amber’s doorstep, that’s what happened! And you vanished without a trace and have no alibi again. We’re getting out of here. I can call a car or you can take me back, I don’t care which.”

  Amber’s doorstep. Josh nearly sprinted for the door, but he’d learned impulse control over the years. He needed to calm Ernest and find out details before he terrified Amber with his own freak-out.

  “I’ve been with witnesses the whole damned day,” Josh told his new CEO. “I’m not going anywhere without Amber. Hire a car, if you want, but I’m taking mine over to the studio. Is that my suitcase?” He pointed at the designer bag Willa had bought for him. “I’ll take that with me. As long as it wasn’t Amber or Zeke who was murdered, I can handle it. What the hell was Sarah doing up here?” Willa’s personal secretary should have had her hands full back in LA, fielding calls from all Willa’s frenemies, keeping an eye on the house, and beating off reporters.

  Ernest calmed down enough to look wary. “You were with witnesses?”

  “The whole damned day. Did you think I murdered Sarah?” Josh looked at him in disgust and yanked up the handle of his rolling suitcase.

  “No, but the sheriff was demanding to know where you were, and I couldn’t tell him.” Ernest collapsed in a chair. “The body was found in Amber’s backyard. Publicity will be terrible for her, but if you have witnesses. . .”

  “The chief of police himself, among others, if that helps, until he got called away.” Josh grimaced, realizing why Walker had left. “I better go find Amber.”

  “I still don’t like it,” Ernest grumbled. “What if the killer is after all of us? Should I call and see if Tessa and Brad made it back to LA?”

  “You can check on them, if you want.” Josh gave that possibility half a thought, then shook his head. “The chief just told me that Sarah reported last night that she had information about Willa’s phone.” He headed for the door. “If you know who bugged it, call the cops. Otherwise, everyone else should be safe, and I’d appreciate it if you stayed. But you’re head of the company now. You get to choose what’s best for the project.”

  He walked out, letting Ernest ponder his new responsibilities. Josh had forgotten Ernest ten steps down the hall as he rushed to find Amber.

  A reporter was leaning against Josh’s Prius. Josh shoved him off the trunk and opened it. The jackals would track him to his new place now. He’d have to hire round-the-clock bodyguards.

  “Willa was a mean bitch, but she never killed anybody,” the reporter said. “You can’t hide.”

  “I’m not hiding. I’m right here and not going far. If you want to help, then keep the innocent out of this and go after the gutter dwellers—or are they not good sales material?” Josh slammed the trunk closed on the suitcase and opened the car door.

  “Jack and Ginger as a murdering duo is pretty good material,” the reporter called as Josh revved his engine. “Point me elsewhere.”

  “Find out who came up here with Crystal Abercrombie and why they’re here. Work for your money.” Josh pulled away, roaring down the drive, startling a couple of peacocks.

  Sarah, damn. He’d mostly talked to the secretary on the phone and considered her another of Willa’s efficient tools. Sarah had called the cops about the phone, and now she was dead. Why would she have driven all the way up to Hillvale once she’d passed on the information?

  First, he needed to worry about Amber. Maybe he should take her away. Another murder would be lousy for the town and business. She shouldn’t have to put up with this shit just because she knew him in a different time and place.

  A sheriff’s van had parked in Amber’s drive. Curious neighbors hung over their fences and milled in the street. If a coroner’s van had arrived, it had already left. Josh continued up the lane to the drive of the Gothic Victorian. An unfamiliar SUV was parked in front of the garage. His landlady waited in his parking space—as if she’d known he was coming.

  Eager to see if Amber was upstairs and okay, Josh didn’t view interference with pleasure. He climbed out and waited without speaking.

  “I do not appreciate unapproved strangers on my premises,” the stern, professorial lady informed him. “I understand and respect your need to protect Amber, but the bodyguard has to go.”

  She stalked away without further commentary.

  To hell with it. Josh took the stairs to the studio two at a time. The burly bodyguard Ernest had hired sat in a chair on the sunny balcony wearing earplugs and blocking the entrance. At sight of Josh, he raised his bulk and moved the chair, gesturing him to enter.

  Nice to know someone didn’t suspect he was a killer.

  Amber flew into his arms the moment the door opened. Grateful that she didn’t question his innocence, Josh wrapped her in his arms and just hung on.

  “You know I don’t deserve you,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I’m a worthless lout with no thought of anyone but myself.”

  She laughed into his shoulder. “Well, if that’s all you are, I’m sure I can find a place for you in my booming empire. I’m glad you’re here. I’m tired of being scared.”

  He held her tight and rocked her until he realized Zeke was sitting in the front of the TV, studiously focusing on a video game. With a half-laugh, he set Amber down. “Okay, tell me what’s been happening while I’ve been having the weirdest pow-wow with your neighbors.”

  “Did they feed you? We have a ton of leftovers.” She dragged him into the kitchen and began emptying the refrigerator.

  He grabbed a beer. “Explain the sheriff’s van in front of your house. Can’t I leave you alone for a single morning without drama?”

  “Nope, I live for drama. We sit around every day, making up action scenes. You should see the knitting society theater—needles at noon,” she said facetiously, emptying a carton onto a plate and sticking it into the microwave. “I don’t know much. I didn’t even get inside before Zeke saw the blood. We went over to Sam’s. She used her walkie-talkie to reach Walker. He came over, took a look around the house, and called the sheriff. So you know more than I do. And I think I’m good with that. I really don’t want to believe in evil.”

  “I think defining evil would be as difficult as defining innocence. There’s a whole lot of gray in between black and white. But we need to know what we’re up against. Apparently Willa’s personal secretary died today—that’s what happened on your porch.”

  She stared at him in disbelief and horror. Amber had a tremendously expressive face that would be luminous on camera.

  Josh knew his mind was simply seeking distraction, and he continued with a sigh, “I don’t suppose any of your know-everything friends could find out if anyone saw anything? Sarah had to have driven up here. Her car must be around. If there’s blood on the step, the chances are good that she must have been killed on your porch.”

  Which made him sick to think about.

  Twenty-two

  “Willa’s secretary?” Amber asked in horror. “In Hillvale, at my house?”

  “Sarah w
as here the day Willa died. She returned to LA with Ernest, remember? I have no idea why she was on your doorstep. How could she be murdered in broad daylight and no one notice?” Josh dug a fork into the plate she set in front of him. “Sarah was a twig of a thing but not invisible.”

  Amber had been trained since infancy to consider food the enemy. Even when food had finally been available, she’d made herself ill eating it. So she’d found her comfort in meditation, Ouija boards, and tarot. She’d lost all interest in lunch the instant they’d spotted blood on the porch.

  Josh apparently had no such problem. He dug into her food while he waited for answers. She gave his question some thought.

  “With the wedding, there’s been a ton of traffic and pedestrians today.” She tried to think like a murderer while she forced herself to nibble at her kale salad. The salad was delicious, but she really wanted her Ouija board. “The wedding party had a big delivery truck parked on our lane, which probably blocked Sam’s view from across the street. Mariah is always at her computer. I have a lot of shrubbery for privacy. It would have been reasonably easy for anyone to walk up from town unnoticed and knock on my door.”

  He frowned and chewed, probably picturing the lane in his vivid imagination. Amber filled in more details.

  “Most of us were in town, working, since Saturday is a big business day. There may have been tourists in the lane. It’s a public passage and safer for walking up to the vortex than the highway, so people park in town and cut through, even though the lane ends on Cass’s property. Walker will have to interview the entire wedding party to find witnesses. And even then, they may not have seen much. My house is set back from the road behind a hedge.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “Sarah knew something. It’s the only thing that makes sense. According to Walker, she told the police that she received an anonymous email leading to an app that tracked Willa’s phone and that the phone was in Hillvale. The sheriff’s department has an IT expert tracing the origin of the email.”