WindSwept Narrows: #21 Charlotte Bell & Natalie Templeton

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “You hear a lot, thanks,” Tre laughed and filed the information away. “Have a great weekend, Jay.”

  “Yeah, Thorne, you too…but you’re still crazy, man.” But he walked off chuckling at his friend.

  He checked his watch and bounced ideas through his head as he rode along the coast highway, pulling into the parking lot and shutting down his bike. He hooked the helmet over the back chrome bar and swung his leg off. One hand opened his jacket as he entered the large open area of the office.

  “Tre…this is a surprise,” Paige Andrews was up from her desk and around the front, her arms out in a long hug. “Sebastian was just talking about you this morning. He said you’re almost ready to move to the Resort hospital.”

  “A couple more weeks,” he confirmed, glancing toward the office and watching his friend come from the inside, their hands meeting in a warm clasp. “Hi, Bastian.”

  “Tre…” he leaned against Paige’s desk, hands resting on his thigh. “Get settled in the new place yet?”

  “Half and half. Thanks for hooking me up, by the way. It’s great.”

  “That’s why you have friends,” Paige said with a grin, sinking behind her desk. “You caught us just before closing.”

  “I need some information and I’m betting you have the connections I need,” he said easily, taking a seat and stretching his jean covered legs out in front of him.

  “Connections to what?” Curious eyes watched her friend.

  “Someone in the area who happens to play Warcraft and some shooter games.”

  “Name?”

  “Templeton, Natalie,” he watched Paige turn instantly toward her computer. “Paige?”

  Sebastian Hartley looked from one to the other, one brow raised. He could honestly admit to never having seen Paige avoid a person’s eyes before. Not like she was now, eyes locked on the keyboard and lips pursed.

  “You know her,” Tre pressed, his position still relaxed, his voice calm and even slightly cheerful.

  “No. Never heard of her.” Paige said loftily.

  Sebastian watched his wife, one brow arching. Very un-Paige like behavior.

  “You’re lying.”

  Sebastian knew Tre was right because there was no response other than a half-hearted shrug. If nothing else, his redhead launched herself into situations.

  “Why are you lying to me, Paige? I thought we were friends,” he had his palm on his chest when she looked over at him, head tilted and eyes rolling. “You’re like the little sister I’d tie up and toss into a closet.”

  “Now that…I could see,” Sebastian said with a laugh at the face she offered.

  “I know a really nice girl working in the casino,” Paige finally said. “I’ll set up a date for you.”

  “Not interested. Natalie Templeton. Give.”

  “She’s not the kind of…”

  Sebastian continued to lean against the desk, amused at the look Paige was struggling with. “You don’t think she’s right for Tre?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “And you don’t think that’s my call?” Still relaxed, Tre offered a bright grin.

  “No. Not in this case. In this case I think I have to protect you from yourself to avoid attending a funeral,” Paige returned with a low growl, ignoring the laughter from Sebastian. “You’re nice. Really nice. You need a nice girl…”

  “And you’re saying Natalie isn’t nice.” One brow arched curiously.

  “Stop putting words in my mouth.” She snapped, curling the corner of her lips when Sebastian chuckled. “Natalie is nice. She’s fun and intelligent and…just isn’t ready for something like you.”

  “I think she needs me,” Tre laughed at the outright stunned expression on her face. “Isn’t ready for me…very interesting phrase, Paige.”

  “You are not a well man.”

  “That’s the second time today I’ve heard that phrase today,” he told her. “You going to help me, or not?”

  “Why are you not listening to what I’m telling you?”

  “You aren’t saying anything I want to hear,” was his simple reply, his grin broadening when she let her head fall forward and thunk on the top of her desk. Sebastian chuckled. “You don’t like her?”

  “Of course I like her.”

  “Well? What’s the problem? She’s smart, has a wicked sense of humor and she’s damned cute,” it was all making perfect sense to Tre. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and snapped his fingers. “I know who will have information.” He tapped the speaker button and then the number he found in his directory.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Hey there, handsome. What’s up?”

  “I need your help with a little problem.”

  “Oh, no, you do not turn to that…that…” Paige was up and around the desk, making a wild grab for the phone now held way out of her reach, especially when a pair of hands were out like bullets and gripping her waist, pulling her back hard against him.

  “Is that Paige? Where are you?”

  “Hmm…I’m guessing she lost the game the other night,” Tre commented, glancing from the seething female to the man holding her in place. Sebastian closed his eyes and gave his head a slight shake. “Ahh…”

  “I kicked ass,” Faith announced into the quiet office, her pride and humor evident.

  “You cheating hussy!”

  “Sore loser! I do not need to cheat. I got smooth moves,” Faith announced defiantly. “And why aren’t you helping him with this problem? What’s the problem by the way?”

  “Because I like him alive.”

  “Alive? What do you want, Tre?” Faith straightened from the reclining position on her back patio.

  “Well, I figured you and Frannie have the most complete information about your numerous friends…”

  “Oh, great, he’s getting help from the two most unstable blonds in the area,” Paige grumbled loudly.

  “I heard that…and Dominic loves my instability,” she declared.

  “I met a girl.”

  Loud whoops of laughter came through the small speaker, Paige’s head dropping forward, her sigh long.

  “My friend the doctor is finally getting bug bitten! This is serious, isn’t it? Not another one of your flighty stewardess types?” Faith demanded firmly.

  “Absolutely serious,” Tre confirmed solemnly. “Like I said, she’s smart and funny and I think she needs me.”

  “You need a reality check,” Paige tossed out, turning in the strong arms and laying her head against Sebastian’s chest. “You really don’t understand…”

  “Who is it?” Now Faith was getting a little, tiny bit concerned. Usually any of her friends would have been at the gate wanting to help.

  “Natalie Templeton,” Tre said the name reverently. Definitely not liking the silence that followed. “Why are you guys balking at this? I don’t think she’s married. I don’t think she’s even seeing anyone. Does she prefer girls? Is that what I’m missing?” He heard the snort from Paige and more silence from his phone.

  “No,” Faith finally said slowly. “Nat doesn’t prefer girls, she’s not seeing anyone that I’ve heard of and believe me, we’d hear. That’s why you wouldn’t help him,” she said slowly, lips pursed in thought.

  “What do you have against her?” Tre looked at Paige, watched as she turned again, leaning her back against Sebastian’s chest, his arms circling her from behind.

  “Nat just isn’t right for you,” Paige tried again, softly, quietly.

  “That’s not fair. You’re denying him pieces of vital information,” Faith interrupted sharply. “She has protective nut cases for family members; she claims her career does not invite serious relationships and she has a little bit of a…just a tiny issue…”

  “She was lied to, cheated on and stolen from in her previous relationship,” Paige said bluntly. “And it was a cop.”

  “Which would account for one of the afore mentioned items,” Tre said as if it didn’t matter. “W
here were the protective relatives?”

  “She ignored them and now, their protection is even more fierce. And backed up with money,” Faith sighed, full lips pulled into a taut pout. “However, that only makes it all the more reason why I will help you. She needs someone positive and cheerful in her life.”

  “That’s what I thought before I knew why she was alone,” Tre agreed with a grin at the groan Paige offered. “So can I get an address and phone number and maybe some insight? Habits, that kind of thing…”

  “Hmm…I can definitely help with that,” Faith chuckled softly. “But I’ve got a better idea. I’ve got access to a way cool beach house with a pool and hot tub and tomorrow would make a great day for a cook-out. I’ll call you back.”

  Tre found himself listening to dead air, his laugh light.

  “Tre…seriously…we love Nat to life and death, but…” Paige sighed, her head shaking. “I’m wasting my advice.”

  “Will I be worse off than before I began the quest, Paige? Seriously?”

  “Yes. Because it’ll hurt,” she answered solemnly.

  “She was shot today,” he remarked quietly, watching her immediate attention at the same time the outside door opened. He recognized the man immediately.

  “Hi, Jesse, thought you were gone for the day?” Paige asked, pulling away from Sebastian and moving to sit behind her desk.

  “I was thrown out. They said I was hovering and that’s probably extremely polite,” he said with a crooked smile. “Given what we went through today, I’m content to just not be hitting something.”

  “I don’t think they know,” Tre said quietly, extending his palm. “Tre Thorne. We sort of met when I treated Charlotte Bell earlier.”

  “Charlie was hurt?” Paige’s features sharpened considerable, wide eyes going from one to the other. “What’s going on? Is she alright?”

  “That’s how I met Natalie,” Tre continued, repeating his earlier comment. “She was shot.”

  “The EMT,” Jesse said, taking the palm and nodding. “Not sure in all the mess I got to thank you.”

  “No problem. She’s alright?” Tre asked easily.

  “Says she’s fine,” he shook his head. “I saw her taking something for her headache and I got her to eat.”

  “What – happened?” Paige asked again.

  “The engineer that’s been following her,” Jesse began with a sigh, piecing things together in as simple explanation as possible. “He and his brother hatched a plot to use Charlotte for ransom. He went to her shop and took her. She went with him because he told her he held Jenna and would give her up in exchange for Charlotte.”

  “Jenna? Oh my god…is she…”

  “He never went near her,” Jesse said quickly. “A ruse. Charlotte managed to climb into the attic of the building he took her too, but she’d hit her head, though, when she was in their van, hence the EMT involvement. Both are fine, Paige. Playing some game at the house and eating pizza and drinking way too much soda. I was informed by my son, that’s how girls work off stress and if I wanted to live through it, find something else to do.”

  “She might need that for a bit to get her mind around the scare,” Tre told him with a slight nod. “Everyone handles that kind of thing differently.”

  “Which is why I left them to play and came for some papers I wanted to review today and didn’t get around to,” Jesse went into his office.

  “Is Nat alright?” Paige asked Tre.

  “A deep graze on her upper arm. Stitched and advised to take on nothing strenuous until the thing closes. So now you know how we met,” he looked down at the phone as it sounded, tapping the speaker button. “Faith…good news, I hope?”

  “Please, I can be devious. Tomorrow, noon, I’ll shoot you the address, Paige…you and Sebastian are invited. Cook out…pool…volleyball…a fun Saturday,” she wheedled.

  “We’d love to attend, Faith,” Sebastian answered before Paige could let loose. “I’ll pick up some brew and a dessert, how’s that?”

  “Sebastian, you’re a marvel,” Faith told him, chuckling thoughtfully. “I’m going to shoot out emails. Bye. See you tomorrow, Tre!”

  “I’ll make sure we have some good food available, Faith, thanks.” Tre Thorne met the concerned eyes watching him. “You might be surprised, Paige. We’re opposite enough to make it work just right. Have a little faith,” he said with a chuckle, standing up and striding to the door. “Tomorrow.”

  “You’re not good with this,” Sebastian said when they were alone.

  Paige sighed, ten fingers raking the long hair back. “It won’t be easy for him, let’s put it that way.”

  “Party?” The word was spoken with a decidedly Chinese inflection. Clipped and more than a little dubious. “You are having a party?”

  “I’ve had parties before,” Tre laughed, the longish blond hair shaking. “You make it sound like I’m conquering a foreign country.”

  “Grown people sitting around game table is not party,” she corrected sharply, watching the younger man closely.

  “A cook-out. Grilling, friends…” Tre tossed his helmet onto the chair and unzipped the jacket he wore, adding it the pile before wandering down the hall to the kitchen. He knew she was behind him, even if those soft shoes she wore made little noise. “Music, food…fun stuff.”

  “You do not have parties.” She repeated stubbornly.

  “Give it up, Mrs. Yang, I’m having a cook-out. Tomorrow. Noon. Problem?”

  “Of course no problem. I love cooking. We will have wonderful party,” she declared immediately, going for her note pad and quickly checking cabinets and the large oversized fridge. “How many people?”

  “Hmm…good question,” he grabbed a bottle of juice, poured a large glass and walked to the computer he’d set up in the kitchen alcove for her to use. He logged into his email quickly and found the note from Faith. “Looks like twelve total.”

  “Twelve. Good number,” she looked up from her pad, the older eyes watching him. “Even number. You got girl? You have date?”

  “Will you stop making it sound like I’m a hermit!”

  She gave off a little sound that crossed between a snort and a laugh. For her. “You are hermit. Games, school, work. Hermit in nice house to hide,” she laughed to herself and went back to checking cabinets. “You know this girl?”

  “I met her today,” he leaned back in the chair, staring out onto the large stone patio. His gaze swept the calendar. He knew the pool was clean since it was just serviced.

  “Met her while working?”

  “She’s a detective. She was shot,” he answered absently, thinking of the long braid of midnight and the pale violent eyes shrouded with the thickest lashes he’d seen in a long time.

  “You finally get girl and people shoot her?” Gia Yang shook her head, deep black hair clipped and short around her slender face. She continued to mumble to herself in Cantonese.

  Tre just continued to stare outside. The fight Paige put up not putting them together bothered him. His friends, especially the females he knew, were usually a wildly positive bunch.

  “Tell Cai to let me know if we need anything,” he pushed up and carried his juice with him toward the large master suite.

  Gia Yang watched the young man she’d been with since he was nineteen, her head shaking as she went in search of her husband of many years. Something about this new girl was troubling him but he never was one to consider anything impossible.

  Tre finished unloading and breaking down boxes, hanging up clothing and arranging drawers. He went to the double patio doors in his bedroom and shoved them wide, perched on the corner of the stone barrier and stared out at the massive explosion of color across the western sky.

  It wasn’t like one of his friends to be even a little negative about one of their own. He’d seen the group slowly forming through the years. Little pods that gradually met up again in this area with a network that would easily rival and surpass any agency deliberately forme
d. Others gravitated around the fringes. He suspected Natalie was one of those.

  Always one to believe that information is power, Tre was up and at his computer for several hours researching the Templeton family. He’d find out about Natalie on his own, but knowing the kind of history she had wouldn’t hurt to have in his brain for the plan still in formation.

  It was almost nine before the smells around the house began to get to his stomach and he pulled the pillow from his head, peering out through narrowed, sleep doused eyes at the day unfolding. The weather people promised clear and almost eighty, so it would be a good cook-out day. When the growling of his stomach became louder than the resident seagulls, he shoved his legs over the side and went through a short round of exercises before hitting the shower.

  Damp and struggling with his t-shirt, he padded on bare feet toward the kitchen.

  “Breakfast plate in oven,” Gia Yang announced without looking over her shoulder as she cooked.

  “How do you do that?” He mumbled, taking the plate and sinking into a breakfast bar. His research had turned up all sorts of interesting things about Natalie’s family, most of it running in social circles with attitude. A cop was decidedly out of place, probably a part of what made them even harder on her. Taking a wild guess, he figured they would have urged her to corporate lawyer or financier.

  “Mother always has eyes in all directions,” she said with a low chuckle, pouring batter and sliding the pans into the second oven. She poured a large glass of orange juice and placed it in front of him. “You were up late.”

  “Research,” he answered, still working on too many things in inside his head at once.