by Vella Day
“Why?”
“Having someone to talk to takes my mind off this wicked headache.”
Now he felt bad leaving her, but he had to make contact with the one person who could help them. “Can’t the doctors give you anything for it?”
“Not with this drug still in my system.”
Kelly looked so forlorn, he was tempted to lean over and kiss her, but he wouldn’t. Right now, they needed all their senses focused on finding Justin Bladen.
Nancy was waiting by her car when Derek drove up to her grandfather’s home. He was happy she’d agreed to meet at him there instead of having to pick her up.
She smiled, and while he hated to deceive her, he had a job to do. Kelly needed protecting, and he needed answers.
Nancy wrapped an arm around his waist when he stepped up next to her. Her possessiveness made him uncomfortable, but he couldn’t afford to anger off.
“Let’s not keep your grandfather waiting,” Derek said, hoping she took the hint.
“Fine.”
McDermitt didn’t stand when Nancy and he came in. The blanket over his legs implied he might be infirmed.
Instead, he smiled and waved them both in. “Nancy told me she’d met a nice young man,” he said to Derek as they shook hands.
“Hi, Granddaddy,” Nancy said in a cheerful voice.
No hug, no kiss, just a friendly hello. Maybe the old man wasn’t the fuzzy type.
Derek wasn’t sure what a white supremacist should look like, but this wasn’t it. Perhaps Mariani’s intel had been wrong. Frail and nearly bald, Elton McDermitt looked like someone’s kindly grandfather. At least looking like he did, he could move in any circle and no one would suspect his bigotry.
“Have a seat and tell me about yourself,” he said, his gaze steady on Derek. Straight to the point. Derek had to respect him for that. Derek looked for some indication the old man guessed his Native American heritage but found none.
Nancy and he sat next to each other on a plaid sofa across from McDermitt’s wooden chair. Telling the truth, peppered with a few lies, was easier to navigate than out-and-out lies. “I’m in town to speak with Lilly Bladen.”
McDermitt cocked a thinning, gray brow. “Is that so?” The old man picked up a cigar and lit it, his face suddenly shuttered. “You don’t mind if I smoke, do you? So many people today claim they’re allergic to it. In truth, they want to flaunt they’ve stopped smoking.”
“No problem.” It was his house.
“So why do you want to see Lilly?”
Derek noted the use of her first name. “My sister is engaged to her son. Justin’s been living in Florida for the last five years, and my sister wants his mom to come to the wedding, but Mrs. Bladen won’t answer Justin’s phone calls. Guess they’ve been estranged for a while.” He watched McDermitt to see if he knew of Rayne’s death, but he gave no indication. Good. He’d bought the story. Too bad his own gut twisted with grief at her memory.
“Justin’s engaged to be married? Hmm. Lilly never mentioned it. Or else she didn’t know.”
Either he was familiar with the family, or McDermitt knew everyone in the small town. “Given Mrs. Bladen will be my sister’s mother-in-law, I said I’d try to convince her to break the estrangement. I was planning on doing a little gambling in Las Vegas and Silverton wasn’t too far out of the way.”
The old man took a few puffs then set down his cigar, his eyes searching the floor. “You must love your sister.”
Derek swallowed hard. “I do.”
McDermitt’s eyes slightly glazed over. “Justin’s getting married. Hmm. Why, I haven’t seen that boy in I don’t know how long. Were you successful in convincing Lilly to make the trip?”
At least someone was willing to admit she had a son. “I stopped by her place, but apparently she’s out of town. I know I should have called before I came, but I didn’t want to tip my hand.”
At the mention of a hand, Nancy slid hers onto his thigh and looked up at Derek. “I remember Justin.” She too had that dreamy quality to her face. “Of course, he was three years older than me.” She turned back to her grandfather. “Don’t you remember when he came over that one time for the meeting? He was so gung-ho.”
It was as though a wall dropped in front of the old man. “No.”
“Sir, do you know how I might contact Mrs. Bladen?”
As if the old man remembered he was in the company of a stranger, he smiled. “I’d like to help, but I haven’t a clue. Once my legs gave out, I stopped going out.” He turned to Nancy. “How about heating up the dinner Mrs. Johnson cooked for us?”
“Sure.” She squeezed his thigh. “Why don’t you help me in the kitchen?”
He couldn’t exactly say no and not appear rude. There’d be time during dinner to question McDermitt about the elusive Bladen family.
Thirty minutes later, the three on them were seated around an oval, lace covered dining table. If the man did head a racist group, he knew how to act down-to-earth.
Once the food was passed around, McDermitt stared at Derek as he chewed. “So what nationality are you?”
“Irish,” Derek said without hesitation. His mother had been Irish, and her mom British. Hence the blue eyes. He left out his father’s heritage.
“Hmm. Rayne doesn’t sound like an Irish name.”
Because it wasn’t. “It’s Celtic. She was named after some ancestor.” Weak, but it was the best he could do on a moment’s notice.
“You look a little dark for Irish.”
“Granddad, you don’t have to put him through the inquisition. He’s a visitor for God’s sake.”
Apparently, all of Nancy’s dates had to be checked out.
“I’m from Florida. We get lots of sunshine there.” Not that he had time to sunbath or had the inclination.
“Which part?”
“Woodlands, Florida.” Derek doubted the town existed, which would slow McDermitt’s research. It might even delay the old man running him out of town once he found out about his police background.
“Is that near Miami or Fort Lauderdale?”
“Tampa.”
“Oh. Sorry I had to ask, but we have a lot of Navajos around here. You can’t be too careful.” He wagged a finger. “Watch out for them. They cheat and steal. They’ll kill you just as soon as talk to you.”
Derek clenched his fists to keep from jumping up and beating the shit out of the guy. Old or not, he wouldn’t mind giving him what he deserved, but he held in his temper.
The bigot glanced at Nancy. “Why don’t you clear the table and bring out the dessert that Mrs. Leopold made just for you.”
“Thanks.” Nancy sashayed her way into the kitchen. Derek turned back to McDermitt. Trying not to grit his teeth, he addressed the issue of the Navajos. “We’ve got the same problem in Florida. Only we have the Seminoles. Useless race. I can’t believe we gave them land. They even had the nerve to buy the Casino Royale franchise.”
McDermitt’s eyes sparkled at the racial slur. “What do you do for a living?”
“I teach.”
“Teach? That’s a noble profession. You know, Silverton could use more good teachers. I think you’d like it here, except for the Indians, that is. We do have an exclusive private school though.” McDermitt’s gaze studied him.
“I’m happy in Florida.”
The old man stroked his chin. “In any case, I’d like you to meet some friends of mine. I think they might be able to convince you this is a good place to raise a family.” He shot a glance at Nancy as she entered with a pumpkin pie.
“Granddad, he just arrived. Besides, he’s not here to stay so stop trying to control my life. Or his.”
McDermitt smiled, the gentle, kind smile an elder bestowed on an ignorant child. “This has nothing to do with you, dear. I think this nice young man should spend a few days checking out our town. Besides, it will give me time to ask around about when Lilly might be coming back.”
Derek nearly groaned.
“You don’t have to go to all the trouble. I can stop back on my way home.” He yawned before glancing at his watch. “I really should be going.”
“But you haven’t eaten your pie,” Nancy protested.
Derek stood and held out his hand to her grandfather. “Nice meeting you, sir.” He nearly choked on the last word. “I’m staying at—”
“Rustin’s motel,” the old man answered with arrogance.
21
A sinking feeling shot down Derek’s throat and landed in the pit of his stomach. If McDermitt knew where he and Kelly were staying, could he be responsible for harming her? “How did you—?”
“There’s only one motel in town.”
Derek slowly expelled his breath, and then smiled—for real this time. He turned to Nancy. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Her lip jutted out, making her look twelve instead of twenty-six.
Thank goodness they’d driven separately. Past nine, he wanted to stop at the hospital before Kelly fell asleep. He’d promised her.
Nancy slipped her hands around his waist, and he almost choked on her heavy perfume. “Do you want to come back to my place?” she asked.
Her invitation held a lot of promise. Too bad he wasn’t interested. “Some other time.” He couldn’t afford to make her nervous or suspicious.
She frowned. “Tomorrow night at Dave’s is Ladies Night. I’ll be there.” She dragged a finger down his chest. “Stop on by.”
Part for show and part because she expected it, Derek leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Tomorrow then.”
He yanked open his door and jumped in the car. He couldn’t wait to get away from the negative energy that permeated the house. Hell, he wouldn’t have been surprised if a burning cross sprang up on the front lawn. The whole area gave him the creeps.
He was also worried sick about Kelly. If only he knew Justin Bladen’s whereabouts he’d feel a hell of a lot better.
For the next hour, he kept an eye on the rear view mirror to make sure no one followed him. Close to Silverton, he spotted a convenience store and pulled in. His muscles relaxed for a moment when he spotted no other cars in the lot.
Inside, he strode up and down each aisle looking for something to cheer up Kelly. Nothing but cleaning supplies, car accessories, and outdated cookies lined the shelves. He grabbed a soda and headed to the cash register. A fake rose, its petal covered in a layer of dust, sat in a plastic tube. Tacky, sure, but he hoped the phrase: It’s the thought that counts, would apply.
A pimply teenager with a tattoo on his shoulder rang him up. Two beefy thugs strolled in, sized him up, and then walked to the hotdog counter in the back.
Derek paid and got the hell out of there.
It was a little past ten thirty by the time he pulled into the hospital parking lot, an hour later than he’d planned. Kelly would probably be asleep, but he wanted to make sure she wasn’t suffering any side effects from the drug. He’d been told persistent vomiting was common.
If the staff let him, he’d spend the night.
The corridors were mostly deserted until he made his way to the wards. Nurses scurried down the halls with purpose, and the scent of cleaning solution helped but didn’t completely mask the smell of illness.
“I’m sorry, sir,” a soft-spoken nurse said as she popped out of a patient’s room. “Visiting hours are over.”
Relatives would be allowed. “I’m visiting my wife.” The word, wife struck a chord he hadn’t expected. Being married to Kelly would be a challenge and a hell of a ride.
She shot a glance at the rose and smiled. “Oh, in that case, go ahead. Do you know her room number?”
“Yes.”
Derek spot-checked the rooms with opened doors. Most patients were asleep. He didn’t notice any sinister looking creep ready to do Kelly in. Best of all, he didn’t see Justin Bladen.
Thankful she had a private room, he tiptoed in. A nightlight above her bed showed her beautiful sleeping form. When he moved the chair to beside her bed, he froze when his wooden chair leg creaked across the floor. Damn, the slight noise was enough to wake her.
“Sorry,” Derek said, happy to see her pallor had disappeared.
“Hey. How did it go?”
“Fine.” He pressed the plastic rose toward her. “It’s not much, but I—”
She smiled and his heart warmed. “Thank you.” Kelly pressed the button on the side rail, and her bed elevated. Derek shot to his feet and fluffed the pillow behind her. “So tell me.”
How much should he tell? The truth? Or only part? The question was how much could she handle?
“If his attitude was any indication, McDermitt seemed to have been involved with hate crimes. There’s no doubt in my mind he despises Native Americans of all kind. I could barely keep my lasagna down I was so mad.”
“That’s good.” Her eyes shut, and she leaned her head back against the pillow.
“Good? There was nothing good about the man except the town’s insidious nature became clearer. Did the doctor give you something to help you sleep?”
“I’ve had enough sleeping aids to knock me out for a...for a month.”
“I’ll tell you about him tomorrow.”
“I’m fine. I’ve been forcing myself to stay awake so I could hear every—.” Her lips parted slightly.
She’d fallen asleep. It was just as well. Exhaustion had nearly made him doze off at the wheel.
Derek awoke with a start. Light streamed in through the window, and he jerked forward. Whoa. He’d fallen asleep in the chair.
Kelly raised her head up from the pillow and smiled. “I think you slept more than I did.”
Derek raked a hand over his stubbly head. He needed a shave. A quick glance at his watch told him she was right. “I guess I did.”
A knock sounded behind him, and he turned. Kelly’s doctor strode in with a clipboard in hand. “We tested the blood sample we took last night, and it looks like your body has eliminated the tranquilizer.”
“Great. When can I leave?”
“As soon as you get dressed.”
Excited for her, Derek stood up. “I’ll wait outside.”
By the time the hospital checked her out, it was close to ten.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. “I’m starving.”
“Yes, but could we stop back at the motel first? I really want to shower, change, and most of all, brush my teeth.”
“No problem.”
Because the trip to the motel took a little over an hour, they stopped at a drive through for some coffee, and the caffeine hit the spot.
Derek kept a constant vigil on who traveled the road. As much as he expected to have a tail, no one seemed interested in them. When they arrived back at the hotel, only a few cars sprinkled the lot. The maid’s cart waited outside an open door at the end of the hall. He couldn’t guess if she’d finished their rooms or was working her way toward them.
“I don’t have my key since it’s still in my purse in the room.”
“Just come through my room, Kel.”
She smiled. “You haven’t called me that in a long time.”
A slip of the tongue. “I guess I haven’t.”
He opened his door and let her step in ahead of him. She halted, and he nearly ran into her.
“Ohmigod. Who would do this?” Kelly asked as she scanned the mess.
The dresser drawers were pulled out and his suitcase and clothes were dumped upside down on the floor. The bed was still unmade, implying the maid hadn’t been there yet.
“Probably the same person who put the poison in your wine.” Derek flicked open his cell and called 9-1-1. He was routed to the police station a moment later.
“Mariani here.”
Excellent. Derek relayed the crime.
“I’m heading out now. Don’t touch anything.” Derek almost threw back a retort. “Never mind,” Mariani added quickly. “Force of habit. You know better than I
do what not to touch.”
“I won’t let the maid come in and clean if that’s what worrying you.”
“I’m worried you’ll try to find the perpetrator. Please leave the investigation to my staff.”
“No problem.”
Derek shoved the phone into his top pocket and turned back to Kelly. “He’ll be over shortly. Don’t touch anything.”
“I won’t. I watch enough crime shows to know what not to do.” Derek couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “While you’re waiting for the police, I want to shower and change. I’m gross.”
He could sympathize. “No can do. We have to wait for the crime lab people.”
“Oh. Can I at least sit on the chair?”
Kelly looked miserable. “Sure. I’m going to speak with the maid. Stay right here.”
Without waiting for her retort, he strode outside and immediately spotted the maid’s cart six rooms down.
He knocked on the opened door.
“Yes?” the maid said. The pretty girl with dark skin was not much more than twenty. She looked too heavy with child to be doing grunt work, and his heart went out to her. “I’m in room 113. While I was gone, someone broke into my room and disturbed my suitcase and chest of drawers.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes contained a world of worry, as if she’d be accused of the incident.
He waved a hand. “Relax. I know you’re not responsible. Did you happen to see anyone enter my room this morning?”
“No, sir. Each day different people come and go. I’m busy working and not paying attention to each and every guest.”
“I understand.” He smiled. “Thank you. If you hear anyone bragging about messing up my room, could you let me know? I’ll make it worth your while.”
She nodded, looking more scared than happy with the new assignment.
As Derek headed back to his room, a Silverton Sheriff’s Department vehicle pulled up in front of his room and Mariani slid out. That sure was quick. With him was another deputy, young, white, and thin. Derek led them inside.
Mariani whistled. “Someone was pissed.” He turned to his young officer. “See if you can get prints off anything.” He turned to Derek. “We’ll need yours, of course, for elimination purposes.” He turned to Kelly. “And yours too, Ms. Rutland.”