The Caspian Wine Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Series

by Maggie Thom

  “Because I think we had the same things happen to us. I was drugged, kept in a hotel, naked for a week. I have disturbing memories but I’m not sure if they are real or imagined. I don’t remember how I got there. And I was left a code similar to yours,” Tarin said.

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

  “Who could make this up? How do I know I can trust you, either?”

  She nodded. “My story is much the same but I met a guy in a bar, an older guy. He bought me a drink. I didn’t pay attention to what the man looked like but he was old enough to be my grandfather. I thought... hell I don’t know what I thought. It was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. When I awakened in a hotel room several days later, I discovered the room was in my name and paid for but that’s impossible. I didn’t have that kind of money. And I’d never been there before. In fact, I’m not sure I could find it again. I wanted to run and hide.”

  Tarin took a step forward but the other woman stepped back. “I wanted to offer you my sympathy.” She hadn’t blamed the woman for stepping back. That was definitely not her strong suit, offering a shoulder to lean on. She had no idea how to do that.

  “Anything else that you can remember? Or that happened afterward?”

  The woman’s piercing blue eyes studied her suspiciously. And that’s when it happened. Both their heads swiveled to look across the creek at a snapping sound. The movement beside her had Tarin turn back in time to see the woman sprinting away. Tarin started to run after her but her heel got tangled in the grass. She thrust out her hands as she started to fall.

  ~~~~

  “Oh my god!” She sat upright, her eyes wide open.

  “What is it? Are you okay?”

  Tarin looked wearily at Jen who was standing across the room, her hand on Graham’s arm, leaning in close as though in an intimate conversation with him.

  “I’m fine. Sorry I nodded off. I really need to be going.”

  “Actually, I have to get to work. Nice meeting you. See you later.” Jen stood on tiptoes to kiss Graham’s cheek before hurrying out the door.

  Tarin blinked a few times, partly to wake herself up but also to convince herself she was safe now. She shuddered as she realized how close she had come to being seriously injured or even killed. She wasn’t sure it had been an accident or events had unfolded on purpose—and if they had, did the woman set her up?

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need to get home.”

  Graham crossed his arms and rested on the edge of the stuffed chair beside the couch. “Not before we talk.”

  “Why? What’s there to talk about? Unless of course you mean about you following me? You happen to show up at the place where I just happened to get hurt? Know anything about that?”

  “Actually I do.”

  “What?”

  “I followed you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because after you told me you were helping abused women, it got me thinking that men behind power games probably wouldn’t like having their stories aired.”

  “You were worried about me?” She looked surprised.

  He shrugged, looking away for a moment before meeting her gaze. “So do you know what happened?”

  “Not really. We’d started talking. Something spooked her and she took off. When I went to follow her, I tripped and fell. I guess I hit my head.” She clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “Do you think her husband or boyfriend could have followed her there?”

  Without a word he went to a table on the far side of the room. He picked up the item he’d found and returned to her.

  She frowned. “What are you doing with an arrow?”

  “Take a look at it.”

  She tentatively took it from his hands. He watched as she studied the length and the feathers. It was obviously something she’d never seen before. She turned it around, shrugged and looked back at him.

  “Okay. So?”

  He took it from her and turned it so the tip faced her. The color drained from her cheeks. Her fingers hesitantly touched the sore spot on her head.

  “Is that what hit me?”

  “I think so. It has blood on it. Some blonde hair that matches yours and it was sticking out of a tree not far from where you were standing.”

  “Jesus. You’d think they’d have regulations against people using a bow and arrow to hunt in the park.”

  “Hunting, of any kind, is illegal in that provincial park.” He could tell she was totally baffled and wasn’t putting the pieces together. It almost bothered him to be the one to tell her what he thought had happened but then he remembered that she might be the one sabotaging his business. If she was, they wanted to know who she might be working for and why. Now it appeared that someone was after her. He straightened up, staring down at her.

  “I think you need to be more careful with these women you’re trying to help. Could she have...?” He’d been sure that she’d been playing him but her stunned expression couldn’t be faked. She masked it but not quickly enough.

  “You have to be mistaken.” She went silent momentarily. “Which reminds me, you haven’t told me how you came to be there?”

  “I want to know who you were meeting.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be more careful.” She attempted to jump to her feet, but quickly grabbed the couch arm to steady herself. He reached for her but she jerked back, almost sending herself toppling backward. This time he gently grasped her upper arm to keep her upright. She swore but didn’t pull away.

  “This isn’t a joke. Someone tried to hurt you.”

  “No kidding. I’m tired of the games. I swear I don’t know why someone shot that thing at me but come on—people break the law all the time and hunt where and when they’re not supposed to. Now tell me why you’re following me.”

  His gaze locked on hers. The friendly air that had sprung up between them in recent days turned darker and deeper before her eyes. An awareness that he realized had always been waiting just below the surface came to light. Ignoring the voice telling him this wasn’t a good idea, he pulled her forward and lowered his head.

  He could see the hesitation in her eyes but her eyelids languished as his mouth touched hers. It was soft, sensual and so damn hot. His arms clamped around her, drawing her in, pulling her closer. Her arms snaked around his neck, clutching at his back, pulling him close before she abruptly thrust him away. She flopped onto the couch and then scooted down it and stood up at the other end of it. Stunned, he stood there with his arms still in the air.

  “You’re like all frigging men. If you want it, take it.”

  “I didn’t see you complaining.”

  Her face turned crimson. “Yes, because I’m an idiot.”

  “I’m sorry if I came on too strong but I don’t understand. If anyone should be pissed, it’s me.”

  “Why? Because I bruised your ego by saying no?”

  God, he wanted to throttle her. He’d never met anyone who’d exasperated him so much. He stormed toward the door. It flew open before he reached it.

  “Hi. Sorry. I forgot a few things. Man, I’m going to be late.” Jen stopped over the threshold but he ignored her and kept going. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my brother so annoyed.”

  He climbed in the car and started it, turning the air conditioner on full blast in an attempt to dissipate the sweltering heat. Five minutes later the two women finally came out. Tarin climbed in without saying a word. He backed up and headed back to the park.

  “We’re going back to your car. You’re going to drive it to the city, to the office. We’re going to talk about what’s going on with you. Why someone shot an arrow at you.”

  “Look it wasn’t aimed at me. It was an accident. I think you’ve been doing the PI thing too long. I’ll report it. Okay? I’m going home. I’m fine.”

  He was tempted to say something but when he glanced at her he noticed she was lost in thought. Did she know somethi
ng she wasn’t sharing? When he pulled behind her car, she sat there for a moment, staring out the front windshield. Since it was only a view of all the vehicles in the parking lot, he doubted she even saw them.

  “I didn’t know she was your sister.” With that she got out and climbed into her vehicle.

  He followed her all the way into town. During the hour-long drive, three thoughts played incoherently in his mind.

  Who wants to hurt her? So does that mean I’m not a two-timing pig? Or is she telling me it’s okay to kiss her again?

  As they reached the city, he slowed for some lights, seeing that Tarin was doing the same. Then at the last second she bolted through the intersection. That was the last he saw of her. Heading for the office, all he could think was. ‘This is why I stick to computers. They aren’t this confusing.’

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  “So what happened? I want all the details and I want to know she’s been shut up.”

  “Uh—”

  “You missed? God damn it. I thought you were a crack shot with an arrow.”

  “I’ve never shot at moving targets before. If you’d have let me use my gun the outcome would have been different.”

  “Too easy to trace. An arrow is nice and quiet, not easily traceable and could easily be considered a stray, not a deliberate means to kill someone.”

  “I know I screwed up. I went back to Carol’s place and she’s cleared out. I don’t think she’ll be a problem.”

  “Make sure she isn’t. If she contacts Tarin again, stop her before she does any more damage. And Tarin?”

  “She fell.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Since I missed, I thought you’d want me to make sure that Carol wasn’t a problem anymore. The whole point was to shut her up, wasn’t it?”

  “Jesus, you incompetent ass.” He couldn’t believe the kind of people he was forced to work with. Many of the men he’d used in the past had wanted to charge him an astronomical fee for such a clandestine operation. He was almost sorry he hadn’t been willing to pay it.

  “Find Tarin. I’ll let you know when you can finish her off. Make sure there are no more screw ups, or you might find yourself on the receiving end of a bullet.” He flung the cell phone across the room and watched as it shattered against the wall. An old injury instantly sent a shooting pain down his arm and he immediately grabbed his shoulder. His finger curled reflexively, the skin from his third degree burn pulled taught, hurting. A smile curled his lips. Soon those responsible would pay.

  He reached for his landline phone and called Stephen. “What have you found out?”

  “I’m waiting for the PI to get back to me. He texted me he had good news, so I guess he’s found her. I’ll call you as soon as I hear from him.”

  “It had better be soon, Stephen. I want that boy. He’s mine.”

  “Soon. Just be patient a little while longer.”

  That was not his strong suit. He so wanted to blast the son-of-a-bitch who couldn’t even keep track of a woman and her child. But he had better plans for Stephen’s demise. His daddy wouldn’t be too thrilled to learn that his son was selling secrets to his competitor. He was finished; he just didn’t know it yet. The strain of waiting to pull that plug was almost excruciating but he wanted his son first, then he’d do away with Stephen.

  ~~~~

  Tarin’s neck was so tight she felt like her shoulders were on the receiving end of an eagle’s talons. An archer in the park frightened her, although she still couldn’t believe they’d meant to hit her; the woman she was with, maybe. Since Graham wasn’t sharing how he knew her location, it was enough to convince her it was time to get a new phone. He must have used the GPS on it, even though she’d disabled it. She couldn’t figure out how else he would know. Avoiding him had been her only thought after they’d left his sisters. It wasn’t until they reached the city that she took advantage of being the first in line at the lights and bolting through them. Thankfully, Graham hadn’t followed. She knew she’d have to face him but getting some rest, making sure Chance was okay and trying to figure things out on her own were higher priorities. Sunday had not been the peaceful day she’d been hoping for. She’d spent the day in the backyard with Chance playing in a kiddie’s swimming pool but then she received Graham’s text.

  Tarin, I need you to come in to work tomorrow. There’s a lot going on. Graham’s message reminded her that she still had a job commitment. And answers she needed to find. At first she’d been thankful but the mood was quickly dampened by the quandary of what to tell him. The day had dragged by as thoughts of her messy situation assaulted her from every angle, leaving her exhausted and grateful to go to bed at 7:30 with Chance.

  But now she was wide awake. She pressed her fingers to her throbbing skull and winced when her fingers brushed over her new injury. It was yet another reminder that she had a lot to figure out... in a very short time.

  Looking at her cell phone, she considered what she was going to do with it. It was more of a liability than an asset. Too many had her number and all were using it except the one she wanted. There were miracles every day and her dad might reach out to see her again. But she knew with a sinking heart that what she waited for was like believing a Canadian winter lasted only a week.

  Flipping open her cell, she intended to ensure the GPS was off. She got a bit sidetracked, however, when she discovered Stephen had sent her a lot of texts.

  ‘You can’t avoid me. I’ll find you.’

  ‘You’re mine. Remember that.’

  ‘I know who his father is.’

  That one sent chills down her spine. Did he really know or was he bluffing? God, she wanted to finally know the truth. If for one moment she believed he knew something, she’d contact him, futile as that may be. The good news was she was sure there had to be another way to find out.

  She skimmed through his other texts in which he called her a multitude of inventive names and warned her when he did find her she would pay. It left a bilious sensation in the pit of her stomach and a pulsing throb in her temple.

  About to delete the crap he’d sent her, her gaze happened to snag a few words from the last message.

  ‘Your mother might still be alive.’

  Thankful she was sitting on the bed, she zipped back through his messages to see if he’d given her any more information. There was nothing else beyond that one tantalizing tidbit.

  She felt catapulted back to the five-year-old child hiding in the closet because she she’d be safe from the big bad night monsters. Her dad had taken away her nightlight and teddy bear because he said it was turning her into a sissy. She used to hug the teddy bear as though it was her mom hugging her. She’d snuck out and taken it out of the garbage bin where he’d thrown it. It had become her safety blanket, her mom blanket, the one thing that took away all the loneliness and kept her company. Her tears had soaked it many times. Tears that were shed by a scared little girl who was praying and trying to be the best little girl she could be in the hopes it would bring her mom back to her. Or a Mom, she didn’t care whose. She just wanted one. She had wanted to know the feeling of her warm, strong, protective arms wrapping around her and letting her know that everything was going to be all right.

  The thought of that woman, her mother, being alive was overwhelming. Tarin’s breath became choppy, shallow, until she was nearly gasping. She took a few moments to focus on her rapidly beating heart and her erratic breathing. It was when she pressed her hand to her mouth that she realized tears were streaming down her face.

  If she’s alive where in the hell has she been?

  Tarin paced the room. Was Stephen lying? Was he trying to bait her? What did he really know?

  Why she’d felt the need at four in the morning to look at his texts was beyond her and something she wished she could go back and change. If what he said was true, he knew a lot... if she was to believe him. She didn’t want to know what she now knew. It meant that she could no longer pretend her life
was normal. It never had been and never would be. The blow sent her to her knees but only briefly. If there was only one thing she’d learned from her father, it had been how to get up and keep going. So that’s precisely what she was going to do. Knights Associates was her best connection to Caspian Winery. She had to find out whatever she could through them. The owner of the winery employed them for employee background checks, based on what she’d overheard Guy and Graham discussing more than once. No longer was she going to putz around at center field; she was going for the goal.

  It was past the opportune time to find answers; now every second counted. She winced when she considered her bosses’ reactions once they knew she’d been using them. It was almost enough to stop her.

  After combing her hair forward to hide her cut, she woke Bobbie saying she had to go in early due to a crisis at work. Bobbie’s expression let her know she’d accept the explanation for now but at some point she wanted some answers. Yet without question, Bobbie had risen from bed and moved downstairs, agreeing to watch Chance and keep him indoors all day.

  Tarin headed out. She parked down the street, studying the path to the office for signs of movement. Not seeing anyone, she quietly exited the car and sticking close to the buildings she made her way to the office. Once there, she walked past and peeked around the corner, hoping Bill was nowhere in sight. When she didn’t see him lurking around the alley, she took that as a good sign.

  Finally sitting at her desk, she logged onto her computer. With shaky fingers she opened the Knights Associates website and the email account they gave her access to. It took her a while to back-trace the emails he sent her every day as he had several blocks up but she was finally able to discover what email address he was sending them from. Taking a quick breath, she spent the next twenty minutes figuring out how to hack into his account. Once in, she quickly snooped through his emails. There was a lot of information but nothing that really looked like it was going to give her some answers. There were a lot of messages and folders but she didn’t have time to go through them all. She scanned through twenty or so files and finally found something of interest, Caspian Winery.