A Glimpse of the Dream (35 page)

I laughed. “That’s the spirit.”

“All right, ready and action.”

I ran, déjà vu swamping me, because damn if I didn’t feel Kane right behind me. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me close. “How the hell did you find me so fast?”

“You’re in my world now, babe. I rule the dark.”

“Oh my God, you’re so weird.”

“Maybe, but you’re about to die.”

“Again?”

“Yep.”

“And how exactly will you mete out this death? Tickling?”

“No, nothing so easy.”

Someone approached, which threw me off, since murder in our game was always a solo gig. I heard Simon’s cackle as he appeared just in front of me. In his hand was what looked like a potpie. My gaze flew to his.

“No, I’m not eating worm potpie.”

“No, doll, but you’re going to wear it,” Simon said with sinister intent.

“Death by fright, good idea, Simon,” said Kane.

“I’m filled with them,” Simon countered.

“You’re teaming up, that’s not fair.”

“Whining won’t get you out of your fate, Tea. Suck it up and take it like a man,” Kane said and glanced at Simon, like he could see him and was confirming they were ready to proceed. “You ready, Simon?”

“All good here, Kane.”

In the next second, I had worms in my hair. The sensation was so disgusting that I wish I
had
died of fright.

Kane

Tea came with me to visit Mr. Bowen. The smell of pine cleaner and coffee greeted us when we stepped from the cold foyer into the heated space of his law firm. The sounds of an office echoed around us: fingers tapping on a keyboard, phones ringing, a copy machine, the soft hum of voices.

“The receptionist is walking toward us,” Tea said softly.

“Kane Doyle?”

“Yes.”

“Please—this way. Mr. Bowen will be right with you.”

The noises became muffled with the soft click of the door closing, separating us from the office activity.

“It’s a nice conference room: big walnut desk, leather chairs. Oh, here he comes. He’s tall, about your height, balding, trim, sharp brown eyes. He’s wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and burgundy tie. Looks like silver-and-onyx cuff links, nice.”

“What about his shoes? Why did you leave out his shoes? Doesn’t he have feet?”

She picked up on my sarcasm and bumped me with her shoulder. “Clown.”

I grinned, couldn’t help it. She was adorable.

“Mr. Doyle. Thank you for coming.”

“Sure.”

“And you’re Teagan Harper, yes?”

“Yes, sir. Nice to meet you.”

“Please, call me Richard.”

“You’re here about Dimitri Falco, aren’t you?” I heard as he settled into his chair, the jovial tone of his voice turning flat, laced with guilt.

“Yes. We’ve talked to Mrs. Marks, so we know you and Mr. Lawson are looking to flush him out, but she’s an old woman and doesn’t need this brought into her home.”

“Agreed. I wasn’t thrilled with Larry’s plan, but we had to do something.”

“Maybe you should start from the beginning,” I said.

“I didn’t know any of this, not until Falco showed up. I want you to know that.”

“Okay.” Apprehension twisted in my gut.

“When the ice cream parlor went belly-up, Kevin O’Malley tried to sell the building and couldn’t. So not only was he not making money, but after he sold everything to cover his losses, he was still paying the mortgage and taxes on the property. He’d say now and again how he wished the place would burn down—it was something we’d all chuckle at a bit. Then there was the fire, and Kathy was caught in the inferno along with some other kids.

“Kids had been hanging there, smoking and drinking, since it closed down, the not-so-best-kept secret in town. The fact that Kathy was there was surprising, but she always had a tendency to want to fit in, to be with the cool kids.

“It wasn’t until later that I learned the truth. The fire hadn’t been an accident. It had been set on purpose. Kathy had overheard her parents talking and decided to take matters into her own hands. She had no idea the chain of events she was setting off.”

“How did you learn of it?” Tea sounded horrified and angry.

“Camille. She brought Dimitri here about a year ago. I didn’t like him from the moment I saw him. He laid it all out precisely. He’s smart—arrogant, lazy, and shiftless—but smart. Explained to me how the fire had been set on purpose. He knew this because there had been an eyewitness.”

“Camille,” I said.

“Exactly. He listed the charges Kathy would be brought up on, since there is no statute of limitations on arson. Knowing how devastated her family already was, and then dumping it on them that their daughter had done it on purpose . . . They’d have been forced to watch as she was carted off to jail, when all she was trying to do was help . . . She was just a kid. I couldn’t do it.”

“So he blackmailed you?” I had suspected the fire had been started due to carelessness. Either way, the end result was the same.

“He wanted inside Raven’s Peak. I was his means.”

“Why Raven’s Peak?” Tea asked.

“I honestly don’t think he cared as long as he had access to valuables, but Camille wanted in and created a shared goal with Falco. The fact that he blackmailed me for a job pisses me off, but what’s even more infuriating is his arrogance in believing that I would just sit back and allow him to steal from a client and a friend. His arrogance will be his downfall.”

“How do you mean?” Tea asked what I too was thinking.

“I’ve been playing him too. I stalled when he first ‘started’—didn’t want to expose Mrs. Marks to him for any longer than necessary—by claiming he needed to go through our new employee training. Falco was smart enough to go along since I do have partners and they would have become suspicious if he didn’t follow our normal hiring procedures. I gained an additional few months by insisting that he become familiar with Mrs. Marks’s file, one that was streamlined for her safety. Again my partners would expect him to study up on the cases he was taking over, and Falco was willing to play the game since he knew the outcome would be favorable.”

“You said Camille had created a shared goal with Falco. To what end?” Tea asked.

“I’m guessing to steal.”

“You didn’t want to expose Mrs. Marks to a criminal and yet you did.” Tea was seething.

“In a way, yes, but she knew what we were doing. We didn’t keep her in the dark. Larry continued to represent her, and we gave Dimitri enough rope. She was actually enjoying the intrigue.”

She would. “Enough rope?” I asked.

“Like I said, I’ve been playing him too. It was why I agreed to his demands. While he thought he had me over a barrel, Larry was having him investigated.”

“Do you have something on him?” It seemed to me that the jig was up with Mrs. Marks’ home and Raven’s Peak passing down to me and Tea.

“Yeah, in his arrogance he didn’t think we’d do some digging, but we did and found the fence he used to sell the stuff he stole from his parents. They are fully prepared to press charges.”

“Does he know?”

“Not yet, but that’s about to change.”

“Is that why you and Camille are estranged?” Tea asked.

“I spoiled her—I was trying to make up for the fact that her mother had left, but I created a monster. If she has been trying to steal from Mrs. Marks, then she was looking to profit from your tragedy, and that sickens me. My own child sickens me.”

I suspected she was a bad egg whether he’d spoiled her or not. “If Camille was using Dimitri to get the pieces she wanted, and he’s expecting to get paid, how is she funding this? A waitress salary isn’t going to cut it. Are you giving her money?”

“No, and that’s the part that doesn’t make sense. She loves Raven’s Peak. I can’t imagine she’d want to see pieces of it being sold off to strangers, so if she has no intention of buying what Falco is stealing, then what’s her motive?”

“To see Kane,” Tea said.

“I thought she was over that crush, but then, I don’t know my daughter like I thought I did.”

On the street a little while later, I stopped and just breathed deeply. What a fucking web.

“You okay?” Tea asked, her voice rounding out some of the edges.

“Yeah, a little in shock.”

“Understandable.” Her hand tightened on mine. “Are you upset about the fire being set on purpose?”

“No, why? The outcome doesn’t change whether it was intentional or not. She thought she was doing the right thing, and, having spent time with that family, I know they’re very close. I’m trying to understand Camille’s intentions.”

“So you aren’t convinced she’s trying to steal from Mrs. Marks either.”

“I don’t know. Unless she’s conning the con artist, how could she?”

“Conning the con artist, interesting. She doesn’t have the money, but she told him she did, and, based on who her father is, why wouldn’t Mr. Sleazy believe her? Who would have thought we’d have such an underbelly of crime in our small town?”

I laughed in spite of myself. “You’re adorable.”

“Why are you laughing?” She sounded almost whiny. The look that used to accompany that voice came clearly into focus in my mind’s eye.

“I don’t think one case of blackmail rates as an underbelly.”

“It should.” She sounded disgruntled but quickly turned serious. “If Camille is really after you, that scares me. Last time you thwarted her efforts, she slashed your tires.”

“You think she might try something?” I didn’t know if I agreed with Tea, but there was no mistaking her tone: She was worried.

“I don’t know, but it makes me nervous.
She
makes me nervous. Anyway, you’re taking this all very well.” Her voice now had an edge of hope.

I was going to need to think about Tea’s concern. She was usually pretty spot-on with people, so something wasn’t sitting right with her. She clearly wanted to change the subject, so I did. “What’s done is done. I’ve got you, and our lives are where we always wanted them to be. Let’s not dwell on what can’t be changed.”

“That’s very mature thinking, Kane, and, coming from you, eater of worm potpies, I’m impressed.”

“At least I don’t wear them in my hair.” Pulling her close, I kissed the top of her head.

“Never intentionally.” Humor flickered in her tone.

Yep, no point on dwelling, I had everything I ever wanted right here.

Teagan

We were at the O’Malleys’ celebrating Kevin and Sally’s anniversary. Kane had asked me to go with him, and I couldn’t deny that part of my excitement for the day was getting the chance to see Kane interacting with the O’Malleys, because they really were like a second family to him. Their house wasn’t a big one, but it was so nicely decorated: drawings that the kids had done as children hung on the walls, and the rooms were cozy, made for a family to settle into and be comfortable. I think I was even more moved by what I saw because I was late, and my period was never late. I hadn’t taken a pregnancy test yet. I was procrastinating just a little, because I wanted to enjoy the high of possibly being pregnant for just a little while , in case I actually wasn’t. The scents coming from the kitchen made my stomach growl—my appetite had definitely increased—a fact that was not lost on Kane.

“Hungry, Tea?”