A Desperate Search

by Amanda Stevens

  Junked cars of every make and model, some squashed flat and piled high in precarious stacks, littered the remote property. A forest of rusted appliances sprouted near the fence, along with various pieces of farm equipment. A small metal building with a covered porch had been erected to the right of the gate. Adam guessed the rudimentary structure served as an office and the larger building next door housed tools and equipment.

  At the back of the property, he could see the tin roof of a house peeking through the trees and wondered if that might be Dr. Wingate’s ultimate destination. Despite the presence of her car, he was hard-pressed to imagine she had business with a junk dealer.

  Catching wind of a new scent, the dogs grew frenzied. Adam didn’t think they could get through the fence, but he scrambled back a few feet anyway. The snarling rose to a ferocious crescendo until a brawny man came out on the porch and shouted a sharp command. The dogs quieted immediately. The man’s height and physique brought to mind the shooter at the cabin. Adam could still feel the explosive impact of that large body bulldozing into him on the dock. The guy came to the edge of the porch and surveilled the immediate area before disappearing back inside.

  Since the dogs hadn’t rushed toward the fence, Adam figured they must be tied up or penned. He cut along the tree line until he spied a chain-link fence enclosing the area between the two metal buildings. He could make out two sleek silhouettes pacing back and forth, but the German shepherds were either so disciplined or so cowed they didn’t react even though they had to be aware of his approach.

  Adam told himself to call it a day and head on back to town. Nothing more he could do here. But he couldn’t silence the nagging voice in his head that prodded him to move in closer even as the scar across his scalp prickled a warning. He kept low as he moved out of the trees, quickly climbing over the fence and dropping with a soft thud on the other side. The heads in the pen came up and he heard a growl. Giving the enclosed area a wide berth, he ran across the open yard and took cover at the back of the building, inching around the corner toward a window.

  He flattened himself against the metal structure, waiting to see if the dogs reacted to his nearness. Nothing. No more barking. No sound at all except for the muted voices inside. Adam eased up to the window. Despite the sunlight reflecting off the glass, he noted two people inside. Dr. Wingate stood with her back to the front door, allowing Adam to glimpse her profile. She appeared to be arguing with the guy who had come out moments earlier to quiet the dogs.

  He placed his hands on the desk between them and leaned toward her in a menacing fashion. Dr. Wingate held her ground for a moment before taking a step back. The man straightened and laughed.

  Another brief argument ensued before Dr. Wingate withdrew a thick envelope from her purse and flung it toward him. The man caught the packet, opened the flap and riffled through the contents, all the while keeping a close eye on his companion. Seemingly satisfied with what he found, he sat down in his chair and propped his feet on the desk.

  Their business apparently concluded, Dr. Wingate turned toward the door and Adam ducked, retreating to the back of the building, where he peered around the corner to observe her exit. She strode down the driveway, threw back the gate and climbed into the BMW, slamming the door soundly before she swung the car around and accelerated down the dusty road.

  Adam checked his surroundings, readying himself to make a dash for the fence, when he spotted something familiar to his left. The old panel truck was nearly hidden between two rows of smashed vehicles. He started forward and then halted once more.

  Slowly, he turned. The dog pen was empty.

  * * *

  NIKKI SPENT MOST of the morning weeding and trimming in the garden, but after a few hours the heat drove her back inside. She showered and changed clothes, then puttered about the house at loose ends. She thought about calling Adam to see if he wanted to meet, but didn’t want to appear too eager. Which really didn’t make sense, considering their current situation. They were both professionals, and if she intended to hire him on as an investigator for the coroner’s office, then they would need to keep in close contact. She couldn’t be worried about what he might or might not think every time she called him. She shouldn’t be concerned about anything except the inquiry into Dr. Nance’s death.

  That all sounded well and good, but Nikki knew her personal feelings were going to complicate the arrangement. Deep down, her dark doppelgänger still lurked. A part of her would always be the insecure girl who had watched her mother drive away that day, knowing she hadn’t been enough. Since that painful revelation, Nikki had done everything in her power to avoid feeling that way ever again. She’d put up barriers and kept to herself all through high school and college. Even now, she only casually dated. A few of her relationships had lasted more than a month, but when things got too serious, her first inclination was to bolt before she got hurt. Leave before she got left behind.

  Something had happened on the dock last night with Adam. Something she hadn’t been able to run away from, no matter how hard she tried to convince herself the sparks had been nothing more than the aftermath of an adrenaline rush. But it wasn’t the physical attraction that scared her. It was the sense of something profound lurking behind the brief smiles and lingering glances that spooked her.

  She couldn’t help wondering what he would be like in bed. After sex, how easy would it be for her to walk away?

  That she even contemplated such a question was itself a warning. How masochistic would she have to be to get involved with a man who would leave town once the investigation was over or as soon as his old life beckoned?

  They had a good thing going at the moment. They were on the same page regarding Dr. Nance’s death. The lack of evidence tied Tom Brannon’s hands to a certain extent, but Adam didn’t have to concern himself with the rules and protocol that came with the county sheriff’s badge. He was here temporarily, more or less a rogue investigator. Hiring him on at the coroner’s office lent an air of legitimacy to his inquiries, but Nikki had no doubt he would pursue the truth with or without her help.

  She wasn’t one to give up, either, especially after having found a clue in Dr. Nance’s study that could only have been meant for her. Together she and Adam would piece together what had happened on the lake the day Dr. Nance had died. Ask enough questions and sooner or later the truth would sort itself out.

  To that end, Nikki decided to pay Dessie Dupre another visit. She wasn’t sure how much she could get the housekeeper to divulge about her personal life. She’d done a good job of keeping her relationship with Clete a secret. Still, Dessie trusted Nikki, and with the right finessing, she might let something slip. Nikki hated the duplicitous nature of her visit, but as the coroner and Dr. Nance’s friend, her first obligation was to justice.

  Plus, calling on Dessie provided a convenient excuse to get out of the house and stop fretting about why Adam Thayer hadn’t called.

  See? This is why you don’t get involved. This is why you keep your distance. Uncertainty breeds insecurity.

  Shrugging off the tug of self-doubt, she called to make sure Dessie would be home and didn’t mind company. The woman sounded so pleased to hear from Nikki that guilt dogged her all the way over to the house. She reminded herself yet again that no matter what she’d overheard, Dessie would never be a party to harming Dr. Nance. Having a boyfriend—even a smarmy one—didn’t make her guilty of anything except possibly questionable taste.

  A classic fifties convertible sat in the driveway when Nikki arrived. Sleek and about a mile long, it was an impressive vehicle even from a distance. She knew very little about the restoration of vintage automobiles, but it didn’t take an expert to know that someone had dropped a fortune on that car.

  The driver had left the top down, relying on the shade of an oak tree to protect the leather and burled wood interior from the sun. Nikki walked around the car, running her hand l
ightly over one of the fenders as she admired the mirrorlike finish. She didn’t recognize the vehicle, but it seemed the kind of car that one of Dr. Nance’s fishing buddies might own. Probably belonged to someone who had driven in from out of town to pay his respects. Even so, Nikki glanced over her shoulder at the house before snapping a shot of the license plate with her camera phone.

  She climbed the porch steps and took a peek through the side window as she rang the bell. As soon as she caught a glimpse of Dessie, she stepped back. The door opened and Nikki was at once drawn into a warm, motherly embrace. The residual scents of cinnamon and vanilla drifting out the front door took her back to her adolescence. The delectable aroma of Dessie’s baking had always comforted her when the unpleasant combination of her grandmother’s sharp tongue and the acrid odor of joint liniment had driven her out of the cramped house.

  Dessie hugged her tight and then pushed her away, holding her at arm’s length to search her face. “You look tired, sweetie. How’re you holding up?”

  “I should be asking you that question.”

  Dessie sighed. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “I know. It’s been such a shock to everyone. I should have come sooner, but I—”

  “Hush.” Dessie gave her a little shake. “You don’t need to apologize to me. I know you’ve had things to do, you being the coroner and all. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to see him like that.”

  “It was...difficult.”

  Dessie winced. “I don’t know how you get something like that out of your head. Still, as awful as it was for you, it’s been a comfort to me, knowing you were there with him. I knew you’d see to it that he was treated with the proper respect.”

  Nikki swallowed hard. “He was.”

  “I never doubted it for a second.”

  Nikki chose her next words carefully. “Actually, I did drop by last evening to see you. The lights were out. I thought perhaps you’d gone to stay with your sister.”

  Was that bewilderment or fear that flared in the woman’s eyes? “Last evening, you say? What time?”

  “Twilight. I walked over from my house.”

  “Did you ring the bell?”

  “No. The lights in your apartment were off, too, so I figured if you were home, you were resting, and I didn’t want to disturb you,” Nikki lied.

  Dessie paused as if to think back. “I may have been out by the pool. On hot evenings, I sometimes sit with my feet in the water and watch the sunset. I probably wouldn’t have heard you come up if I had the radio on. But it really doesn’t matter anyway. I’m glad you’re here now.”

  Nikki managed a smile. Why she didn’t just come right out and ask Dessie about her companion, she wasn’t sure, but something warned her to proceed with caution. Finesse, remember? Let her do the talking.

  It seemed wrong to manipulate a woman who had never treated Nikki with anything other than kindness, but she couldn’t ignore what she’d seen and overheard. Dr. Patience Wingate wasn’t the only person in Dr. Nance’s life who had something to hide.

  As if sensing Nikki’s discomfort, Dessie squeezed her hand. “We’re not going to get maudlin, you hear me? Dr. Nance would hate that. He’d want us to remember the happy times.”

  “I know. And I do have so many good memories of him here.”

  “I was just thinking earlier how the two of you used to sit out here as soon as it got dark, watching for lightning bugs. That was the start to every summer, seeing who could spot one first.”

  “You’d bring us sweet tea and gingersnaps. Sometimes you’d put on a record album from his old collection. I can still remember the sound of music drifting out through the open windows.”

  “After a while, he’d get to talking about his medical school days. Some of those stories would curl your hair. Like the time someone put a skeleton in his bed.” She shook her head and chuckled. “I could just picture his face.”

  “He was a great storyteller,” Nikki said. “And a very great man.”

  “Amen.”

  Dessie’s smile turned reflective as she gazed out at the street, seemingly lost in the past. Nikki used the opportunity for a stealthy observation. Dessie was still dressed for church in a simple navy dress cinched at her narrow waist with a white belt. Her lips and eyes were subtly enhanced and she’d pinned back her thick curls with a mother-of-pearl comb. Nikki had always admired Dessie’s gentle beauty. She wore her age well. Though she was in her fifties, her skin was still supple, her figure still trim, and only a few silver strands glinted in her hair. It was hard to reconcile the pretty, unassuming woman Nikki had known her whole life with the sultry siren she’d glimpsed poolside last evening.

  She must have stared too long and too intently because Dessie’s hand crept to her throat. “Goodness, Nikki. The way you’re looking at me...is something wrong?”

  Nikki caught herself. “What? No! I’m sorry. I was just thinking how pretty you look today.”

  Dessie’s sad smile flickered again. “You’ve always been such a sweet girl. I never understood how your mama and daddy could take off and leave you the way they did.”

  “Apparently they needed more out of life than being my parents.”

  “Foolish, selfish people. But we won’t waste another breath on that worthless pair.” She took Nikki’s arm and urged her toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go inside, where it’s cool. We’ve got a lot to talk about and there’s fresh lemonade in the refrigerator. Plenty to eat, too, if you’re hungry. We had a crowd after church, but everyone’s gone, so we have the house to ourselves. Well, almost.”

  “You must have had your fill of company by now,” Nikki said. “Are you sure you’re up for another visit?”

  “You’re not company. You’re family.” Dessie pushed open the door, took a glance inside and then turned back to Nikki. “I should warn you that Dr. Nance’s attorney is still here. He brought over some paperwork. Nothing to worry about. Just a little matter he’s taking care of for me.” Her fingers slipped again to her neckline as her gaze seemed to falter. “We’re finished now and he was just leaving.”

  “I don’t want to interrupt,” Nikki said as she followed Dessie inside. She paused in the foyer. “I could come back later.”

  “You’ll do no such thing. He’ll want to say hello anyway. Dr. Nance always spoke so highly of you.”

  “Well, in that case...”

  As always, the house was cool and spotless, a welcome refuge from the intense Texas heat. The furnishings were plush and comfortable, and the artwork covering the walls ranged from watercolors by local artists to framed snapshots of the surrounding countryside. Books were stacked neatly on shelves and on the coffee table. Nikki wanted to take a closer look to see if any of the titles stood out, but Dessie was already propelling her toward the kitchen.

  “Talk about memories,” Nikki murmured. “I’ve always adored this house. I used to think of it as my happy place.”

  Dessie squeezed her arm. “Dr. Nance would have been so pleased to hear you say that. It’s a pity he and Miss Audrey were never able to fill it with the children they both wanted. Then losing her to cancer when she was still a young woman. Some things aren’t meant to be, I guess. But despite all that heartache, he was a big believer in living life to the fullest. I never heard him complain once about his misfortunes. There’s a lesson for all of us in that. Live each day as it comes. You never know what tomorrow will bring.”

  “That’s true.”

  Nikki followed her through the dining room into the large eat-in kitchen, where a row of windows across the back of the house looked out on the pool. A man dressed in charcoal slacks and a white pullover was seated at the breakfast table with an open briefcase before him. He closed the lid as they entered and rose.

  Nikki froze as he came forward, her pulse jumping in agitation. She couldn’t be sure,
but she thought he might be the man she’d seen with Dessie last evening.

  Wait a minute.

  Dessie’s creepy boyfriend was Dr. Nance’s attorney?

  Chapter Eleven

  Dessie put an arm around Nikki’s shoulders. “Mr. Darnell, I’d like you to meet Dr. Nikki Dresden. I’m sure you’ve heard Dr. Nance speak of her many times.”

  “I have, indeed.” His smooth drawl was unmistakable. He extended his hand, and Nikki could do nothing but offer hers in return. “So many times, in fact, I feel as if I already know you, Dr. Dresden. Or may I call you Nikki?”

  “Nikki is fine,” she said stiffly.

  “Cletus Darnell.” He shook her hand firmly. “My friends call me Clete.”

  Somewhere in his late forties, he oozed a slippery charm with his easy smile and glib demeanor. He wore his dark hair slicked back from his face, highlighting blue eyes, thin lips and a hawkish nose. Handsome, Nikki supposed, if one overlooked the hint of smugness in that easy smile and the glint of cold calculation in those baby blues.

  Remembering the unpleasant way in which he’d spoken about Dr. Nance last evening, Nikki slid her hand away. “Clete, is it? Dessie said you were Dr. Nance’s attorney. I’m sorry, but I never heard him mention you,” she said coolly. “What happened to Mr. Townsend?”

  “He retired some months back,” Dessie said. “Mr. Darnell took over his practice here in Belle Pointe. He also has an office over in Longview.”

  “You must be a busy man,” Nikki murmured.

  “Keeps me out of trouble.” He flashed that charming grin as he reached inside the briefcase and extracted a business card. “Should you ever need my services.”

  “Thank you, but I have an attorney.”

  He shrugged. “Keep the card anyway. One never knows.”

  “One never does,” she agreed, as she pocketed the card. “When did you say you took over Mr. Townsend’s practice?”