A Story to Kill (23 page)

“Maybe he just couldn't deal with the possibility anymore. He does seem to be a bit of a control freak.” Shauna finished setting the table and then added a small bouquet of flowers to the table. “There we go. Now that's a proper Monday evening meal.”

“Flowers are always needed after catching a killer and avoiding a kidnapping.” Cat shook her head. “How do
you
stay so calm?”

“Believe me, bartending in that dive taught me a lot. This day doesn't compare to the worst day I had there. At least no one died today.”

Because of Seth
, Cat thought but didn't say aloud. She didn't know how she felt about being saved by the guy, but she pushed away her doubts and allowed the gratitude to take over her thoughts.

Daisy and Linda returned, chatting about the events of the day, and the men followed behind. As soon as they sat at the table, the kitchen door flew open and a rumpled but grinning Rose came into the kitchen.

“Hello, dearies. Oh good, soup. Let me take a quick shower and change out of these prison clothes, and I'll be back to hear all about the excitement.” She paused to kiss her sister on the cheek. “Thanks for staying around. It meant a lot to me.”

As Rose disappeared out of the kitchen to her room, Cat heard Daisy mutter, “And I'm going to remind you of that often.”

A group chuckle filled the room as Shauna filled the bowls with the steaming soup. For a minute, the house and the group of friends were at peace.

Chapter 23

As Cat wandered through the house, it felt empty. Rose and Daisy had left the day after Rose got released from jail. Linda had stayed on a day longer, but even she had finally returned to her New York home and life, promising to keep in touch. Cat laughed at her own sudden loneliness. She was the one who had wanted the peace and quiet, but now she was going to miss the people she'd come to know in just over a week. Would every retreat be this bonding? Or was the fact she felt close to the people mostly because they'd gone through a trial by fire with her?

She poked her head into the kitchen. Empty. Walking to the back door, she noticed the SUV wasn't in its parking spot. Shauna must be out shopping or exploring. But in the backyard, she saw Seth loading up lumber and tools into his truck.

Opening the door, she walked out into the cold. “You done with the attic?”

He started, then his mouth quirked into a grin. “Not yet. But the weather report is calling for snow, so I need to set up a new staging area. I'm going to have this set up in my garage. It will be a pain hauling everything over here, but it's better than warping the wood.”

“You could work inside.” Cat ran through the rooms in her mind.

He leaned on the tailgate. “I'd either have to work in the cellar, which adds another level of stairs, or haul everything up to the attic and work around the stuff for the next three months. My plan will be better. I'll just be away from the house more.”

She stood in front of him, her arms folded across her chest. “That will be okay. We should have started earlier, I guess.”

He patted the tailgate next to him. “Come sit by me; you look like you're freezing.”

Cat glanced back at the house. “I forgot my coat. Last week, I didn't need one.” She scooted up onto the tailgate, and he slipped his own coat on her shoulders.

“Better?” He tugged the edges close and turned her head toward him. Then without waiting for an answer, he kissed her.

As they came up for air, he grinned. “I do have a question.”

“Now what?” She teased. “Do you need more money for the attic project?”

Shaking his head, he stared into her eyes, and her insides went all gooey. She shook off the instinct to lean into his shoulder. The guy could make her feel safe and in danger all at the same time. Safe, because he wouldn't let anything happen to her, but in danger of losing herself to him and not wanting to ever come up for air.

“What are you doing Saturday night?”

The question had come out of nowhere. “What?”

“Simple question. What are you doing Saturday night? I'd like to take you on a real date. Nice clothes, nice restaurant, see the play that's being put on over at the college. Then I'll bring you home, steal a kiss on the front porch, and leave. But I'll call the next day.” He grinned. “What do you say, Kitty Cat? Want to try some traditional dating rituals until we get to know the grown-up us better?”

She thought about the man sitting next to her. So different than the boy she'd loved. But, in a lot of ways, still the same. She felt the same draw to him as she had the first day she'd met him. Could you have two soul mates? She had been in love with Michael, she'd been sure of it. Now she was remembering how strong the connection with Seth had been before.

She realized he was waiting for an answer. And she also realized she had one.

“What time?”

He glanced at his watch. “It's about three.”

She swatted his arm. “No, what time will you pick me up?”

Now his grin widened to full megawatt power. “Six thirty.” He leaned into her and gave her a quick kiss. “I'll be expecting a little more heat than that on Saturday.”

“We'll see.” She slipped off the tailgate and handed him his coat. “I've got things to do inside where it's warm and cozy.”

“Leave me all alone out here in the elements.” He took his coat and put it on. “You go on inside. You'll freeze out here, and then dinner will be a bust.”

“It's always all about you, Seth Howard.” She ran to the kitchen door, but stopped just inside. “Shauna has a pot of coffee on if you need to warm up later.”

He waved her inside and she shut the door, wanting to peek out at him to see if this was truly real. Her heart had butterflies. “Well, look at me, I'm going on a date,” she announced to the empty kitchen.

She was drawn down the hall to Michael's study. She'd put the journal on the side table next to her reading chair. She sank into the chair and thought about all the good times she'd shared with Michael in this space. She'd come home with one thought, that she wouldn't let what Michael had done ruin her future in the house. Now, she didn't know what to think.

Cat looked over at the desk and imagined her smiling husband sitting behind it, a book and a notebook open on the surface in front of him. “We're not done talking about this,” she told the vision. As it faded in her mind, she wondered if she'd made the right decision saying yes to Seth. Maybe it was too early to be starting a new relationship? She shook the question off. Today she'd deal with today, not the echoes of yesterday.

After closing and locking the door to Michael's study, she headed upstairs to her own office to work on a release promotion schedule and answer emails. The bad thing about being a full-time author? The workday never stops. People think you can just do whatever you want, but there's always a book to write, or a book to edit, or a book to sell, which left little time for playing or goofing off.

* * *

The room had grown dark before she heard the sound of the car pulling into the driveway. Seth had left hours ago, stopping into her office to say good-bye and that he was locking the downstairs doors when he left.

Cat ambled down the stairs, her stomach rumbling for food. Maybe Shauna had brought home sandwiches. When she reached the kitchen, she found her friend standing at the stove, heating up a kettle for tea.

“Did you see outside?” Her face glowed with excitement.

Cat glanced over to the window. “Did you wreck the car?”

“No. Why would you ask that?” Shauna took Cat's arm and drew her to the door. When they reached it, Shauna threw it open. Large flakes floated down from the sky, starting to coat the ground in white. “It's snowing.”

“Seth said it was going to. I thought it was too cold today, but it feels like it warmed up a little.” Cat held her hand out to catch a snowflake.

“It's so pretty. I was talking to Kevin at the pub today, and he says he'll teach me to ski, no charge.”

Cat searched her memory for the conversation about Kevin. “Oh, yeah, he's the ski instructor?”

“He's not a ski instructor. He owns the ski lodge on Little Ski Hill. I know I've told you about him before. He wants me to come be his executive chef at the lodge.” Shauna reached both arms up and danced in a circle. “It's snowing.”

“I guess you didn't think it would snow in Colorado?” Cat watched her friend, bemused at her joy. “You're not quitting anytime soon?”

“Bite me. I've lived in California too long. I miss the snow.” She put her arm in Cat's. “I'm waiting for a better offer from the guy, like one with a ring involved? Anyway, it's time for dinner. Sandwiches and some beef stew okay?”

“Perfect. I'd like to talk to you a little bit about the next session. We only have a bit before we're hosting again.” Cat shook her head. “I can't believe we have one retreat under our belts.”

“Let's just hope this one is a little calmer than the last,” Shauna said as they walked back into the warm kitchen to start preparing dinner.

Cat stood in the doorway and gazed out on the backyard. With the snow gently falling the view looked like one of those postcards you could buy in the travel stores. The home she'd inherited from Michael was starting to feel like hers, not theirs. They were booked for retreats for six months in the future, and she had a date on Saturday.

Life was good. She whispered the one word, “Home.” She hadn't known Aspen Hills could ever feel like home again. And Cat felt more at peace than she had in years.

“Come away from the door, you'll freeze us out of here,” Shauna called from the stove where she'd started the stew.

As she went to shut the door, Uncle Pete appeared in the doorway. She kissed her uncle's cheek and helped him out of his coat. “I didn't hear your car.”

“I walked over from the house. I figure it's long past time to tell you what you need to know.” He stomped his boots on the welcome mat before walking into the kitchen.

Cat shut the door behind him, wondering what was so important to bring her uncle out on a chilly evening. “Let's go into Michael's study and talk.” She shook her head. “Someday I'm going to start calling it ‘the' study.”

“I'll bring by hot chocolate in a few for you both,” Shauna called after them.

Today, Cat had spent some time lounging in the study's big easy chair, reading Michael's journal. Having finished the first draft of her book, Cat was letting it rest, so she'd been anxious to work on something else for a while. Yesterday she'd boxed up all the papers from what they were now calling Michael's secret lair and set the computer up in his old office.

She didn't read long each day, just enough to make notes on a few pages. The emotions that hit her as she read were unexpected and threw her back in time to when their marriage had been perfect. At least, she'd thought it had been perfect.

Uncle Pete took in the room. “Looks like you've been spending some time in here.”

“Just stirring up old memories. I'm not really sure what I expected to find in all this, but the journal portrays the Michael I fell in love with, not the monster I divorced.” She sighed and moved the journal so she could sit down. “What brought you over today? News about Larry?”

Uncle Pete sat on the chair facing her and leaned back. “I always loved these chairs. Your ex knew how to be comfortable.”

“And you seem to know how to avoid answering a question.” Cat smiled at her uncle. “Don't tell me Larry's going free?”

“That wouldn't happen even if he hadn't confessed to murdering Tom to so many witnesses. No, he's being transferred to the county lockup to prepare for trial, so expect to be called in to testify if he pleads not guilty.” Uncle Pete leaned his forearms on his knees and templed his fingers together. “Actually, I think it's time we talked about Michael's death.”

Cat's stomach twisted a bit, and she regretted that last cup of coffee she'd consumed a few minutes ago. “What about it? He is dead, right? You said you saw the body.”

He waved his hands downward. “Calm down. I want you to know, I questioned the coroner's report. I don't think Michael died of a natural heart attack. The guy was in great health. The college makes him get a physical every year, and his doctor was shocked when I told him what had happened. There were no signs.”

Cat thought about Michael's habit of running every morning. He'd even dragged her out of bed a few times to join him. “Sometimes it happens that way.”

“I know, but I had the crime-scene guys come in when we first found his body in this room. They didn't find any fingerprints where his body was found.” He paused letting the information settle.

“Isn't that good?” Now she was confused.

He looked around the room and Cat could see he was remembering the scene. He turned back and shook his head. “No fingerprints at all. Not his, not yours, not even from the housekeeper he hired after you moved out. The room had been wiped clean.”

* * *

Cat stayed in the study for a while longer after Uncle Pete had dropped his bombshell. He hadn't come right out and said Michael had been murdered, but there had been clearly too many unanswered questions at the time for her uncle's taste. She stared at the journal, wondering what other secrets it held. The whole thing was weird. Even Michael keeping her in the will and passing on the house to her. Had she even known her husband at all?

She heard Shauna walking down the hallway to tell her dinner was ready. It was time to close the door on this mystery, at least for a while. She'd pull a Scarlett and think about it tomorrow, when the darkening sky outside the windows didn't make her shiver. Tomorrow would be soon enough to face the growing questions.

Tomorrow she would read the rest of the journal.

* * *