“It’s fine. I needed to be cooled off anyway. It was just . . . a shock.”
“Ha. I’ll say. He’s visiting me for the summer, and every day seems to be a new shock.” She frowned. “Who knew boys could be such a handful?”
Nicole laughed. “He’s not that bad. You can’t expect me to believe you never did a cannonball as a girl.” She sent the boy a conspiratorial wink as he rested his elbows on the side of the pool and listened in. “Cannonballs are way too much fun for to resist.”
“I suppose you’re right.” A lopsided grin lit Sarah’s face. “Thanks for understanding. Hey, you’re getting quite a burn.” She pointed to Nicole’s shoulder.
Nicole turned her head and spotted bright red skin. “Oh no!” She reached in her bag for a cover up that cascaded to her elbows. “Thanks. I’m Nicole.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sarah and these are my friends, Tina and Marge.” The women waved. Sarah moved toward the pool. “You coming in, Nicole?”
“Sure.” She could keep the cover-up on in the water and whoever or whatever she waited poolside for could wait for her—one-thirty had come and passed. For the first time since Grams’ death she didn’t feel lonely, and she liked that feeling. Nicole stood and stopped short when an older guy waved her over. Her pulse kicked up a notch—he wore red.
“Are you Nicole Davis?”
“Yes. But how’d you know?”
He waved a snapshot of her from her last birthday.
She caught her breath. “Where’d you get that?”
“It was taped to the outside.” He held up a manila envelope and handed it to her. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got the message to deliver this a few minutes ago but couldn’t get away sooner.”
“No problem. Thanks. Who sent you?” This must be the next clue. Good thing he got here, or she’d have turned into a crispy lobster waiting for him. She knew better than to come to the pool without sunblock, especially with her fair skin, but Grams’ game had her brain muddled.
He smiled and raised a brow. “I can’t say. I’ve never been asked to deliver something like this before. It feels so cloak and dagger—like something out of Mission Impossible.”
She laughed and raised the envelope. “Thanks.” Maybe an old movie had inspired Grams, but she doubted it.
Sarah and her friends were in the pool and didn’t seem to notice she’d been sidetracked. Should she take a dip or open the clue? She looked toward the pool again. The promise of cooling off in the water and forging a friendship tempted her, but she was here for one reason, and now she had what she’d come for. It was time to see what the big mystery was.
Nicole sat and tore open the envelope, then drew out a single sheet of paper with a key taped to it.
“Sunshine poolside is always a good idea. Relaxation at its finest. This key is the beginning of your adventure. Don’t forget to keep your eyes open and enjoy the world around you. Have fun, sweetie. Love always, Grams.”
Nicole held up the key and sighed. “What am I supposed to do with this?” Water dripped near her feet, and she looked up. “Oh, hi, Sarah. Sorry I never made it to the pool.” She held up the envelope and key. “I got sidetracked.”
Sarah wrapped herself in an oversized towel and plopped down beside her. “What’s the key for?”
“My grandma was big on adventures. Before she died. she wrote me a letter I was supposed to open upon her death. In it, she asked me to go to Sunriver as soon as school released for the summer. So here I am.”
“I’m sorry about your grandma.”
“Thanks. She was quite a lady. Always putting others before herself. Case in point, this game she left for me. I know she’ll never know if I played along or not, but I want to do it for her because it would have made her happy.” Sadness gripped Nicole, threatening to pull her into a pool of grief, but she shook it off and plastered on a smile. “Anyway, she left me clues to follow.”
“Sounds like fun. You mentioned school. Are you a college student?”
Nicole shook her head. “Teacher.” She frowned. “At least I was. The school where I worked had to make cutbacks, and since this was my first year, they didn’t renew my contract.”
“Ouch.”
“Tell me about it.” She’d applied at a few schools around Oregon, but none of those jobs really appealed. What she really wanted was her old job back, or better yet, a job here in Sunriver. Now that would be incredible. She’d have to check the district website and see if they were hiring. If they were, she’d be sure to apply. It would be a dream come true to live and work here.
Sarah stared at Nicole’s shoulders. “You really need to put ointment on your shoulders. I can see the red through your cover-up.”
“That doesn’t sound good. Maybe I should go.”
“Wait. I have a fix for your burn. Be right back.” Sarah grabbed something from her bag and came back. “This stuff will help.” She held up a spray can. “It has aloe in it and feels soothing on a burn. You can buy your own at the grocery store in the village, but this should help until then.”
“Thanks.” Nicole removed her cover-up and held her breath as Sarah sprayed her shoulders. “Brr. It’s freezing.”
“Doesn’t it feel nice though?”
“Mmm. Yes.” The cold sank through the burning hot layers of skin bringing sweet relief. She chuckled. “To think a few minutes ago I was roasting.”
“Glad I could help.” Sarah snapped the cap back on the can.
“I’ll be sure to get that stuff. Thanks for the tip.”
“You’re welcome.” Sarah looked toward her friends, then back at Nicole. “I grab coffee at the Merchant Trader Café every morning. Would you like to join me tomorrow?”
Nicole tipped her head to the side. “I’d love to. Your friends won’t mind?”
“Nope. I jog in the mornings and then stop for coffee and a bagel at the café before walking back to my cabin. I’d love company.”
“You’re sure your friends won’t change their mind?”
“Trust me, they don’t get up before eleven, and my cousin sleeps late too. They’re all on vacation. I, on the other hand, am not. I took the day off to spend with them, but it’s back to work for me tomorrow. I’ll be at the café in the lodge by seven. Is that too early for you?”
“Not at all. I’m a morning person.”
“Good. I’ll see you then.” Sarah turned and rejoined her friends, who had sauntered back to sun themselves on the lounge chairs.
Nicole had had more than enough heat and gathered her stuff. She needed to figure out what this key went to.
Chapter Three
Mark eased into the hammock with a groan and closed his eyes. He draped his arm over the side and ran his hand along Sadie’s back. He’d recently adopted the Golden Retriever and didn’t have one regret. Talk about a good dog.
He shifted and stifled a groan. Every muscle in his body ached. No one warned him to take it easy his first day, but they sure had a good laugh at his expense when he could barely walk after getting off the bike.
Sadie sat up and growled.
“What is it, girl?” Footsteps on the deck had Mark twisting to see who was approaching. The hammock tilted to one side and dumped him to the ground as Sadie darted out of the way.
She barked at Spencer, one of his new co-workers.
“It’s okay, girl.” Mark scrambled to standing, and every muscle in his backside screamed at him. The blasted hammock needed adjusting so that wouldn’t happen again.
Sadie quieted and sat, never taking her gaze off the other officer.
Spencer chuckled as he folded his six-foot frame into one of the plastic Adirondack chairs. “Nice dog.”
“Thanks. What brings you by?”
“Wanted to see how your day went. I had your job my rookie year, and that first week was murder.”
Mark winced at Spencer’s choice of words, as he eased into the other Adirondack chair. Murder—he shook off the all too fresh memory, and focused on the man across
from him. “Today was quiet. You have any action?”
“I responded to a burglary and a fender bender.”
“A burglary?” His gut tightened. Sunriver was supposed to be quiet.
“Yeah. There’ve been a string of them this past week.”
Mark frowned. It seemed crime wove its tentacles everywhere. “Any leads?”
“Only that all the houses hit are part of the same rental pool.”
“Inside job?”
Spencer shrugged. “Could be. There’s nothing pointing to that, but we’re still investigating.”
“Let me know if I can help.” Mark almost revealed he’d been a detective in Portland, but stopped himself in time. That would create too many questions since he was working well beneath his rank and abilities this summer.
“Thanks, but I don’t think a rookie will be much help. No offense.”
Mark’s pulse quickened at the jab—he had at least five years of experience on the man. He shook off the comment. The chief agreed to keep his experience quiet, but the slight rankled just the same. “No offense taken, but the offer stands if you need a fresh perspective.”
Spencer nodded and stood. “You work tomorrow?”
“Yes.” Hopefully he’d be able to straddle the seat.
“See you then.” Spencer hopped off the deck and sauntered across the dirt to the driveway.
Mark frowned. He’d wanted a light workload with limited threat potential, but if his investigative skills were needed maybe he should offer his services to the chief. Then again, he’d been ordered by his boss to relax this summer. That might prove to be easier said than done if someone was burglarizing rental units. He’d need to be extra vigilant to look for suspicious behavior while he was patrolling.
Frightened screams from the direction of the bike trail behind his rental had him leaping to his feet despite his protesting muscles. Adrenaline pumping, he jumped off the deck. Sadie scrambled after him then ran beside him as he sprinted across the dirt, littered with grasses and lava rocks. He headed toward the trail keeping watch for threats as he charged across the dry landscape. Water balloon remains littered the bike path. He looked around but didn’t spot anyone. A balloon splashed at his feet, then another exploded against his gut. He sprinted in the direction the balloon had come.
A boy ran from behind a boulder. He looked to be about five feet tall, with brown hair a little too long to be considered clean cut. He wore jeans and a gray T-shirt.
“Sadie, stay!” Mark sprinted, then reached out and grabbed the back of the kid’s shirt. “Hold up.”
“Let me go! I didn’t hurt anyone.” The kid thrashed, trying to pull away.
He gripped the boy’s shoulder. “Cool it! I’m not going to hurt you. I only want to talk.”
The boy stilled. “What do you want?” He eyed Mark with distrust.
“What’s your name?”
“Connor.”
He raised a brow at the familiar name. The boy looked around the right age. “I’m Mark. You don’t happen to have a cousin named Sarah do you?”
Recognition shown in the boy’s suspicious eyes. “You know Sarah?”
“We’ve met. I guess she was right about you.” He released his hold on the delinquent, convinced he’d piqued the kid’s curiosity enough he wouldn’t bolt.
Connor crossed his arms. “What’d she say?”
“That you’re a handful.”
Pain dulled the eyes that suddenly dropped to study the ground. “I keep doing things that bug her. She’s not used to having a kid around, and she is so boring.” He rolled his eyes. “Plus her friends are awful! I can’t stand them. They drink and talk all night long.” He shrugged. “So I came out here to find something to do.” He pointed toward the bike path. “Is that your dog?”
“Yes.” He patted his thigh. “Sadie, come.”
Sadie charged at them and bounded to a stop.
“She’s friendly. You don’t have to be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.” He reached out a hand to Sadie and let her sniff it. “You’re a pretty girl.” He glanced up at Mark. “How old is she?”
“Three. You can pet her.” He couldn’t stop thinking about the boy’s words regarding the women at his house. “You mentioned your cousin’s friends drink too much. They don’t hurt you, do they?” Mark’s dad had been a mean drunk, and he had a short fuse for people who abused kids.
“No. They leave me alone. My cousin doesn’t drink, and I can tell her friends’ drinking bugs her, but she still lets them crash at her house.” He shrugged. “Whatever. I guess she can’t say no to family and friends. She doesn’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings. At least that’s what my mom said about Sarah when she suggested I visit my cousin for the summer.”
Mark hurt for this kid. He knew firsthand what it felt like to be unwanted and treated like a burden. “Did you want to come to Sunriver?”
Connor toed a rock. “I guess. I can fish, swim, float in the river, ride my bike and—”
“Scare tourists with water balloons?” Mark raised a brow.
The grin was all mischievous boy. “Yeah, that too. You’re not going to tell Sarah, are you?” His voice cracked.
“Shouldn’t I?”
“What if I promise to not throw water balloons for the rest of the summer?”
“You think you can keep your word?”
Connor nodded, sincerity in every bob. “Positive. My last one hit your stomach.” A smirk stole across his face.
Mark rubbed his chin. “I suppose your cousin doesn’t need to know about the water balloons. This could stay our little secret. But Connor,” he waited until the boy looked up at him, “I’m a cop, and I don’t want to see you get into any more trouble. Am I clear?”
Surprise and a hint of admiration covered the kid’s face. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now head on home before your cousin starts to worry about you.”
Connor kicked a pebble with his sneaker. “Can I hang here with you? My cousin’s friends are probably getting tipsy about now.”
Mark sucked in a breath, and let it out slowly. This boy must really hate it at his cousin’s if he’d ask to hang out with a stranger who happened to be a cop. He felt bad for him. He stared hard at the kid. If it hadn’t been for Sam stepping up and getting involved in his life as a kid, he wouldn’t be the person he was today. In fact, he’d probably be behind bars. Maybe Connor was his chance to pay it forward. “Sure, but you need to let Sarah know where you are. Is her place far from here?”
Connor grinned wide. “Two or three miles maybe. My bike is stashed over there.” He pointed in the direction he’d been running when Mark caught him. “It’s only fifteen minutes away from here when I ride.”
“Okay then, grab it, and let’s call Sarah.” Sadie bounded ahead of them.
Connor walked his bike to Mark’s house and rested it against the deck.
“Do you have a cell phone?”
The kid nodded and pulled a smart phone from his pocket and entered her number. “Hey Sarah, I’m at a cop’s house.”
“What!”
Mark could hear Sarah’s panicked voice through the phone. He reached out a hand. “Let me talk with her.”
Connor passed the phone to him.
“Hi, Sarah, we met earlier on the bike trail when you and your friends took a spill.”
“Oh yeah. Sure. I remember. Why’s Connor at your place?” Concern edged her voice.
He quickly explained, leaving out the water balloons. “Do you mind if he hangs out here for a couple hours?” He looked over his shoulder toward the boy who was swinging on the hammock and lowered his voice. “He sounds a little uncomfortable with your friends.”
“Oh. Okay, sure. But, so you know, my friends leave Connor alone.” Defensiveness edged her tone.
He’d believed the boy for the most part, but her confirmation made him feel better. “Connor said the same thing. I think he needs some guy time.” Tension eased from his shoulder
s. His gut said these two were on the up and up, but he’d keep a close watch on the boy, to make sure. He’d been fooled before and didn’t care for a repeat.
“That makes sense. Thanks for this. I can come by and get him at eight if that’s okay.”
“I’ll make sure he gets home safely.” He wanted to see for himself what Connor was going home to.
“Okay. See you in a couple then.”
“Uh, one more thing. Please don’t let your friends know I’m the one bringing him home.” Even though he thought he could believe Sarah and her cousin, he wanted to see for himself that things there were okay. He didn’t want the women to change their behavior because he was a cop.
She laughed. “No worries. Mum’s the word. Thanks again.”
Mark strode across the deck and handed the phone to Connor. He didn’t care to see those women again, but his concern for the boy overrode any apprehension he felt. Best-case scenario they’d be in another room and wouldn’t notice him when he brought Connor home.
“You don’t like her friends either, huh?”
The kid was perceptive, but he wasn’t going there with him. “You know what I don’t like?”
Connor shook his head.
“Being hungry. Have you eaten?”
Sadie barked and sat facing him. Mark laughed. “You’ve eaten, girl.”
Connor squatted beside Sadie. “I haven’t, and I’m starving.”
“How about burgers? I keep frozen patties in the freezer.”
“Sounds good.” Connor sat on the deck playing a game on his phone. Sadie curled in front of the hammock where Connor lounged.
Mark got busy preparing a bachelor meal for them and allowed his thoughts to drift through his day. Had he seen anything or anyone that might have been involved in the burglary? He’d met many people today, but the person that stuck out in his mind was the blonde. He shook his head. Nothing about her spoke trouble, except maybe the vehicular kind. He chuckled. She’d sure been irritated with him. She’d tried to hide it, but he could tell the woman was riled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, just letting my mind wander. How’s your game?”
“Okay. I used to play it all the time with my dad.”
A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) Page 2