Arnie’s shoulders sagged. “I didn’t know her well, but she seemed like a sweet lady. I’ll do whatever I can to help. Let’s take this into my office.” He lifted a section of the countertop and headed across the store to lock the front door. Then he ushered them into a small office in the back.
The room was windowless, and unlike the laid-back, New Age atmosphere out front, the office was filled with high tech gadgetry. A state-of-the-art laptop was open on the desk, hooked up to a printer-scanner that looked to be capable of beaming Arnie up to the Starship Enterprise. An open door led to a stairway going down to what must have been a basement since they were currently at street level.
Arnie had them sit around a square chrome-and-glass table. “Tell me what you’d like me to find out specifically.”
Ryan was about to answer but Emily beat him to it. “The name of the person—or people—who she remembers being with last. Anything she can give us to lead to him, something we can take to the police.”
“I’ll try.” Arnie covered his face with his hands then held perfectly still.
Emily threw Ryan a subtle nod. If she was okay with the guy, so was he.
Arnie’s head snapped back as if someone had clocked him, then his expression turned almost serene. He mumbled something unintelligible then slumped forward.
Ryan’s first instinct was to check to see if Arnie needed CPR but Emily didn’t seem concerned so he sat tight.
Finally Arnie’s lids fluttered then opened. The guy looked as if he just woke up from a long nap. “Josiah told me that whoever killed your sister was very close to her—very close.”
Ryan glanced at Emily then back at Arnie. “Who said?”
“Josiah. He’s my channel.” Arnie smiled. “My contact person in the other realm, if you will. You understand that Becky won’t know the name of her killer, right?”
Ryan nodded. “Emily explained that. But Josiah will?”
“Perhaps. He understands things most spirits do not.”
Forty-eight hours ago he’d have dismissed the guy as a nut, but he didn’t have much choice other than to believe him—or at least the message. Besides, the cops had told him that the killer’s MO pointed to someone Becky knew and trusted.
“I’ll try again this evening. Sometimes I can pick up more on my second attempt.” Arnie stood and gestured at the door.
“Thanks for your help.” Emily strode into the store. “Would you call me if you—”
“Of course,” Arnie cut her off.
Ryan followed her through to the front door.
She dug in her purse for her business card then apparently changed her mind and shoved it back inside. Instead, she took one of Arnie’s cards from the counter, wrote her cell number on the back then handed it to him.
“I heard you left The Spiral Circle and stopped doing readings last year. What have you been up to lately?” Arnie asked her.
She darted her eyes around the room. “Keeping busy, you know.” Taking Ryan’s hand, she waved to Arnie. “Talk to you later.”
The woman had a habit of avoiding certain questions. And keeping secrets. Although he had no room to condemn her since he’d neglected to share with her the sexual part of his vision before they’d made love. He let her into his truck then started it up and faced her. “Now what?”
She buckled her seat belt. “Hopefully Arnie will have some information for us later, maybe something we can take to the police.”
“Hope so. What do you say we swing by Tommy’s place and see if he’s got a black SUV with front end damage?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Are you serious? You want to just show up there? This guy could be a killer, right? If it is him, he’s already tried to come after us once. Maybe we should ask the police to check him out.”
Ryan pulled onto the road. “I told you, the cops won’t do shit to Tommy, not as long as his uncle’s a bigwig on the force.”
“Surely they’d have to call in another agency under the circumstances.”
He swallowed back the taste of bile from his throat. “They’re all crooked.”
Her throat twitched with a swallow. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
He pulled onto the road and patted her hand. “It’ll be fine. Trust me.” If he found that black SUV on Tommy’s property, he’d rip the bastard apart with his bare hands.
As they drove away from Raleigh, an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of Emily’s stomach. She’d had the same feeling back at Arnie’s store when the three of them were in the office but she couldn’t pinpoint the source. The landscape looked familiar and she realized they were close to Becky’s house.
Ryan turned at a mailbox with the name Thomas Leeds, Junior handwritten on the side. He negotiated the long, narrow driveway to a modest log home. Several cars were parked near an unattached three-car garage next to the house, but no black SUV.
Ryan stopped his truck and drew a heavy sigh. “Just because we don’t see the vehicle doesn’t mean he’s not the asshole who rammed us last night. He could have parked it behind his house, out of sight.”
Emily jerked back against the headrest as Ryan punched the gas and headed around the side of the garage. But there were no cars in back.
He slammed his fist into the steering wheel then spun the truck around and started around front. “Damn it. I was sure it was him,” he muttered under his breath.
Before she could respond, a dark-haired man in his mid-to-late twenties came outside. “What can I do for you, Ryan?” he asked.
Ryan stormed out of the cab and rolled his shoulders. “Where were you last night?”
The other man set his hands on his waist. “I’m not sure that’s any of your business.”
“Someone hit my truck. Twice.”
The testosterone was so thick she could practically smell it from the cab.
“Twice? How the hell did that happen?” Tommy asked.
“Good question.”
A sarcastic grin nudged up the corners of Tommy’s mouth. “Oh, I get it. You gonna accuse me of something else, huh? Not bad enough you’re spreading lies that I’m some sort of murderer. Now I’m after you too. Sounds like you have a little paranoia problem, my friend.”
Ryan shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. Maybe having a cop in the family means you get away with murder.
Tommy fisted his hands and the men approached each other with menacing stares.
Emily couldn’t help but look at the man’s aura. The bright yellow color only told her what anyone else would immediately realize—that he was struggling to keep his emotions under control and trying to get the upper hand with Ryan.
Ryan’s aura burned red, full of rage. “A black SUV rammed my truck last night.”
“I was home all night. And I don’t have an SUV.”
Emily prayed the men didn’t come to blows. She didn’t know what she’d do if they did. Tommy could be a killer. All the blood drained from her face. She reached for her cell phone, ready to dial the police if either threw a punch.
“I had nothing to do with Becky’s murder, Ryan. Why can’t you get that through your head?”
Ryan shoved Tommy’s shoulder and Emily’s heart lodged in her throat. Ryan was more muscular and broad but Tommy had a good twenty or thirty pounds on him. An image of her mother fighting with her boyfriend filled Emily’s head and her throat seized up. She struggled to inhale slowly and pray for calm but the intensity of the scene fired up so many painful memories from her past.
Somehow she managed to get a grip on her emotions and she climbed out of the truck. “Ryan, this won’t solve anything.”
Tommy fisted his hands but stood down. Emily ran over and grabbed Ryan’s arm. He started back to his truck then turned toward the other man and jabbed a finger at him. “I will find out who murdered my sister and I’ll kill the bastard. Mark my words.”
Tommy’s jaw quivered. “I hope you do.”
When they got back into the cab, Ryan leaned his head back and growled.
Emily slid closer, rubbing his arm. “I don’t think it was him. I’m not getting those sorts of vibes from him.” She wished she could completely rule out Ryan but he wasn’t an open book to her as some people were.
He whipped his head toward her and for a moment she thought he was going to unload on her, but just as fast, the energy diffused. Relief replaced her fear. She wished she could get into his head but he was still an enigma to her.
He looked off into the distance. “There’s a storm coming.” His eyes softened as they landed on her. “What do you say to a cozy fire later?”
Visions of making love with him by the fireplace heated her entire body. “Sounds good.”
He drove them back to his place and they started inside.
Ryan grimaced at the low pile of firewood outside the door. He handed her his keys. “Hang these on the hook, would you? I need to chop some wood then I’ll be right in.”
She nodded as thunder boomed in the distance. Ryan rolled up his sleeves and the glimpse of those perfectly muscled forearms heightened her burgeoning desire.
Moments after she stepped inside, her cell rang. She checked the display and her breath caught when she saw Arnie’s number. She answered immediately. “Hey, Arnie. Any luck yet?”
“Yes. Are you alone?”
She glanced through the window at Ryan and watched him disappear behind a dilapidated shed. “Sure am. What’s up?”
He didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “How well do you know Becky’s brother?”
She didn’t want to say just how familiar she was with the contours of his rock-solid body or the taste of his skin. Still, her stomach fluttered at the memories. “Why do you ask?”
Another hesitation. “I sense danger around you.”
Her pulse kicked up a notch. She’d hoped bringing Arnie into the case would remove the threat to her, but this was the third time someone had expressed concern for her safety.
“I need your help if I’m to get any more information about Becky’s killer. Can you come right now?” he asked.
She touched the pane of glass, wishing Ryan would hurry back. “We can be there in half an hour.”
He grunted into the phone. “With Ryan? You might not be safe with him.”
His statement hit her like a painful punch as the realization of why he’d inquired about their relationship settled in. “You couldn’t possibly think…”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t want you to take any chances. I’m picking up on some bad blood between Ryan and Becky. I’d feel better if you stayed away from him until we get a clearer understanding of what happened. With your help I think we can accomplish that.”
She recalled the uneasy feeling she’d had when they were in Arnie’s office, then again outside Tommy’s place. Ryan had told her he and Becky had argued the last time they’d been together. No, there was no way Ryan had anything to do with it. Arnie didn’t trust Ryan, but he didn’t know Ryan as she did. Tears filled her eyes as she allowed herself a final look toward the shed. “I’ll be right there.” She hung up then grabbed Ryan’s keys. She had to figure out what was going on.
Quietly closing the door behind her, she tiptoed across the old, creaky porch but when she heard the whine of a chainsaw, she quickened her stride. With a backward glance, she started the engine then gunned it. It wasn’t the first time she’d run from something that had felt like home. She’d get over it.
Chapter Four
Ryan split the last pine log then started hauling the wood to the house. A gnawing feeling niggled at him as he strode to the back of the shed to grab the rest. He glanced toward the spot where he’d parked his truck and immediately froze.
What the hell?
He was sure he’d left it right outside the door but it was gone. Something was very wrong. His heart shifted into overdrive. He charged toward the house and practically ripped the screen door from its hinges. “Emily?”
The silence confirmed what he’d already guessed. She was gone. His chest ached with terror. Not only had he failed at protecting his sister when he’d had no inkling she was in trouble, but now he’d let Emily slip through his fingers and possibly into a life-threatening situation when he knew damn well that she’d been in danger.
He reached for his phone and dialed Emily’s number as he raced outside, heading for Becky’s old Toyota. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to sell or even drive the car after the funeral but now he had no choice. Reaching Emily trumped all his reservations about stirring up his grief.
“This is Emily. You know what to do,” her voicemail said.
“What the hell is going on?” He disconnected and called the police, told them Emily was missing.
“You and your girlfriend have a fight?” the officer—one he’d dealt with more than once in the last month—asked.
Ryan’s gut clenched. “No, it’s not like that. She drove off in my truck with no warning. She wouldn’t have done that unless something was wrong.”
“Mm hmm. How long has she been gone?” The man’s tone instantly set every nerve in Ryan’s body on edge.
“Just a few minutes but she’s in danger.” He could hardly explain to the cop how he knew but he prayed the man would believe him anyway.
“Look, Mr. Barnes, you just told me she left on her own. There’s not much I can do to help you unless she stole your vehicle.”
He briefly considered reporting the pickup stolen but time was ticking past and every moment might be taking Emily closer to trouble. Without explaining himself, he hung up then drove toward Tommy’s place.
“Tell me where she is, Beck,” he said in the car. When no response came, he smashed a fist onto the Toyota’s steering wheel.
Tommy’s house was dark when he arrived and there was no sign of Emily or of his truck. He drove all around the property with no luck. Again Ryan beseeched his sister to help him. Only silence greeted his pleas.
He jumped out of the sedan and stalked toward Tommy’s house. The front door jerked open before he reached the porch.
Tommy stood there wearing a scowl. “What the hell do you want now, Barnes?”
Ryan stopped a few feet from him. “Where’s Emily?”
“Who?”
“The woman you saw me with before.” He didn’t have time for these games.
“I have no idea where she is. But if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay the hell away from here. Do I have to get a restraining order against you too?”
“What does that mean?”
“I didn’t want to go legal on Becky but she wouldn’t stop coming around, apologizing and begging me to take her back. Swore she made a huge mistake but I said it was too late.” Tommy dropped his gaze and sighed. “I wish to God I’d handled it differently but there’s nothing I can do to change it now.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Tommy met his stare. “She didn’t tell you I’d taken out a restraining order against her? After she admitted she’d had an affair, I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her.” He wiped a hand over his face. “Shit, Ryan, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
Suddenly unsteady, Ryan grasped a post. “Who’d she have an affair with?”
“She wouldn’t say. The whole thing came out of the blue. I still can’t believe it.”
He couldn’t afford to delve into the matter more, not with Emily missing. “I’ve got to go. Sorry I—”
Tommy held up his hands. “Don’t. I understand.”
With a nod, he started back to Becky’s car. He didn’t have time to deal with his sister’s secrets now, not with Emily missing. Getting behind the wheel, he racked his brain to think where she would have gone and why. Nothing came to him. All he could do was hope she’d contact him and that she was all right.
* * * * *
Emily grabbed Ryan’s jacket from behind the seat of his truck and pulled it on before getting out at Arnie’s place. His scent wrapped around her and a pang of regret tugged at her
heart. Arnie could be wrong about Ryan. She prayed he was as she climbed out of the cab.
The front door to his shop was locked so she knocked and peered through the glass when he didn’t answer after several minutes. Thunder cracked nearby and rain started moments later. She moved under the awning.
Finally he came out from the back and opened the door. “Sorry, sweetheart. I was on the phone with a vendor.” He glanced over her shoulder. “You didn’t tell Becky’s brother where you were going, did you?”
She shook her head. Deep down inside, she almost hoped he would find her and proclaim his innocence.
“C’mon inside. Looks like it’s getting nasty out there.” Arnie locked the door behind her then led her back into the office where they’d spoken earlier. He disappeared behind a trifold screen for a moment then returned a minute later and set a cup of tea in front of her as he sat opposite her. “It’s chamomile. It’ll calm you down.”
She sipped the steaming liquid, wondered how he’d made it so quickly. Maybe he’d brewed it for himself. The tea tasted much sweeter than she liked. She winced then immediately schooled her expression.
Arnie laughed. “Too much agave syrup?”
“It’s fine, thank you.” She drank more to convince him. “You said I might not be safe with Ryan. Did Josiah tell you that?”
He nodded. “That’s why I had you get away from him. Josiah said Becky’s spirit is in turmoil because she was betrayed by her brother. She didn’t have many people who cared about her and truly loved her, you know. And certainly not that boyfriend.”
What was he talking about? She tried to concentrate but her stomach was burning.
“Tell me exactly what Becky’s spirit said to you.” He leaned toward her and looked at her expectantly. “It’s important that I know…so I can tell Josiah.”
“Wait, I’m confused. I thought Josiah told you things.” She blinked, trying to focus but she couldn’t seem to concentrate. She grasped the edge of the table, suddenly lightheaded.
No one knew where she was or who she was with. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t know Arnie that well. She swallowed hard and glanced out the window. She tried to focus on his aura but she was finding it hard to keep her eyes open. She blinked several times but the sensation didn’t lessen.
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