Deception at Dark Hall (The Briony Martin Mystery Series) (5 page)

Paige was right. People did open up and confess their secrets to strangers. Briony thought about his comment. Was Daniel admitting he’d already moved on and had found someone else? Was that person Sharlyn Dark? Is that why he visited Dark Hall so many times a week? She’d seen the way he stared at the young woman last night, with more than admiration in his gaze. She believed he was in love with her.

Did Miss Dark share his passion? Had she planted the notion in his head about starting a new relationship by scripting Monica’s final words to him? Briony wondered if that was somehow part of her scheme. Why would Miss Dark want to play Daniel? What did she see in him? He was a pleasant enough man with above average looks. But, of course, she was blind. Looks meant nothing to her. From what Briony gathered, Daniel didn’t have much money either. But then, Miss Dark was the heiress to a fortune. She needed no money. Was she simply a lonely woman drawn to a lonely man?

She shrugged. Perhaps it was a love match after all and there was nothing for Paige and Mark to worry about. Anyway, it wasn’t her business. “I understand we’re to pick up some chairs for the reception on Sunday,” she said, changing the subject.

Daniel stood up and placed his dirty dishes in the sink. “I can handle it alone. You’re here on vacation. I’d never think of asking you to help.”

“That’s gallant of you, but I’m happy to. I don’t want to sit in the house doing nothing. It looks like a beautiful morning. I’d like to see more of the city. That is, if you don’t mind my tagging along.”

He conceded it would be rude for him to leave her alone. She thought about her call to John, but Daniel appeared ready to go, so she decided not to keep him waiting. She could telephone John when they returned. She quickly finished her sweet roll and coffee, and the two of them headed out the door.

~ * ~

She didn’t lift as much as a finger at the rental store. A young male employee helped Daniel carry the foldout chairs to the car and load them in the trunk. Briony stood watching while savoring the rays of the winter sun on her face.

“Why don’t I give you a tour of the city since we’re out?” Daniel suggested after slamming the trunk lid.

“I’d like that. I didn’t see much of it yesterday with the rain falling.”

He drove along the banks of Lake Michigan and past Lincoln Park Zoo. Then he pointed out the Union Railroad Station and stopped at the Buckingham Fountain where they got a closer look of its four pairs of bronzed seahorses. When they drove by the Science and Industry Museum, she gasped at the beauty of the building that was constructed of marble and limestone.

“Do you like museums?” he asked.

“Yes. I’ve read about this one. It’s supposed to have three levels and more than eight hundred exhibits.”

“I haven’t been inside yet. Maybe before you leave, we could see the exhibits together.”

She smiled; certain he wasn’t flirting but was only being polite. “Perhaps Paige would like to come with us, too.”

“She might, if getting ready for the christening hasn’t worn her out.”

Downtown, Daniel showed her the Chicago River and then drove by the white terracotta Wrigley building, the Chicago Board of Trade building, and the two magnificent towers that comprised the fairly new Lake Shore Drive apartment buildings whose exteriors were made of glass and steel.

After yesterday’s rain and the strange evening spent at Dark Hall last night, Briony enjoyed the outing. A companionable alliance quickly formed between her and Daniel. Any awkwardness they’d experienced after the séance and on the drive home appeared to be gone. He seemed to be in his element as host and tour guide, and she was in an especially good mood. She eagerly anticipated talking to John later and felt like a flower that had bloomed out of the frozen ground.

“This certainly is a bustling city,” she said as Daniel stopped the car at a red light downtown.

“Wichita is a good size town, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Chicago. There’s so much going on here.” She rolled down the passenger window and a light breeze touched her face. People moved down the sidewalks in waves and came and went from shops like bees in and out of a hive. It was a work day, after all.

While waiting for the light to change, Daniel lowered his head and searched his pants pockets. “I must have a stick of gum in here somewhere,” he mumbled. “I’m trying to quit smoking.”

The signal flashed for pedestrians to cross the street. Briony glanced out the windshield and watched the stream of people as they passed by. When a familiar looking woman with long strawberry blonde hair walked in front of Daniel’s car, she shook his arm.

“That looks like Miss Dark.”

His head jerked up. As if she could hear their conversation, the woman stopped in the street. Her head turned. Ice blue eyes gazed directly at them.

A shudder ran through Briony. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

Daniel’s jaw dropped.

The woman turned away quickly and fell back into the throng of people.

He frantically rolled his window down and shouted, “Sharlyn!”

“We have to be mistaken,” Briony said, staring at the woman’s retreating back. “Miss Dark is blind. Isn’t she?”

Daniel didn’t answer. The moment the light turned green, he pressed on the gas pedal and made a fast left.

CHAPTER FOUR

“There she is,” he said, spotting the woman. She walked at a clipped pace across a public parking lot toward a blue and white Ford Fairlane convertible. Being winter, its top was up. He whipped his Coronet into the lot. The tires squealed in the gravel as he pulled beside her.

“Sharlyn!” He jumped out of the car and jogged around the front. The woman turned and stared blankly. With a flirtatious hand, she flipped a strand of shining hair over one shoulder.

From the car, Briony watched with rapt curiosity.

“Sharlyn,” Daniel repeated. Stopping in front of her, he searched her face. Then his inquisitive gaze dipped to her body and raked her head to toe.

She cut a stunning figure dressed in a white belted trench coat that fell past her knees and was accented with a wide fur collar. Her high heels were red, as was her brimmed tilt hat that was trimmed with white satin and feathers. Her gaze seductively moved up and down Daniel’s frame. A sly smile creased her mouth. Suddenly, the beaming light in her kindled eyes moved to Briony. Then her spirited gaze fell upon Daniel again, and she let out a sharp laugh.

What kind of game was she playing? A frown appeared between his eyebrows. With fists clenched at his sides, his expression was that of a man who realized he’d somehow been duped. Feeling pity for Daniel, Briony’s temper sparked.

The low, rich sound of Miss Dark’s voice cut through the air. “You have me mixed up with my sister. It happens all the time.” She thrust her hand out to shake. “I’m Shelby Dark. And you are?” Her perfectly coiffed eyebrow arched.

Tentatively, he offered his hand. “Daniel Collier.” A gentle rush of air expelled from his mouth, and the crease in his forehead vanished. “Your name is Shelby?” Chuckling nervously, a hand slid through his hair. “Wow. This makes better sense now. For a moment, I thought I’d lost my mind. Pleased to meet you.” His lips formed a slow and wary smile. “I didn’t know Sharlyn had a sister. She hasn’t mentioned you.”

Shelby rolled her eyes. “That comes as no surprise. Sharlyn pretends I don’t exist. You see I’m the black sheep of the family. The
wild
one who doesn’t play by the rules.” She playfully slapped his arm. Her cool blue eyes sparkled with mischief and good humor, and another laugh filled the air.

Briony noticed the abrupt change in Daniel’s demeanor. His spine grew straighter. His chin jutted forward. His cheeks warmed to a pleasant pink. Like a moth drawn to a bright flame, it seemed as if he’d instantly become smitten.

“You and Sharlyn look identical,” he said.

“That’s because we’re identical twins, you silly man.”

“Oh.” His smile was a little too broad. “I had no idea she had family.”

“Where do you know my sister from?” Shelby asked.

Daniel cleared his throat. “I was invited to Dark Hall by a friend several weeks ago. That’s when we met.”

Shelby narrowed her eyes. “Don’t tell me you believe in that hocus pocus and voodoo she dishes out, Mr. Collier.”

“Well…hmmm… I wouldn’t exactly call what your sister does voodoo. She gives comfort to people in pain.”

Shelby waved her hand as if it didn’t matter. “If you believe Sharlyn can speak to the dead, then you must also think a one-legged man capable of kicking your ass in a fight.” She crowed at her joke.

Briony felt her own checks warm. None of the women she knew would ever swear in public, especially in front of mixed company.

Like a snake seeking out its prey, Shelby flicked her full attention toward Briony. “Who have we here, Mr. Collier? Your girlfriend?” She strolled to the car and held her hand out.

Not wishing to be impolite, Briony clasped her hand through the open window. “We’re not dating, Miss Dark. I’m Briony Martin, a friend of Mr. Collier’s sister-in-law.”

“How nice.
So
pleased to meet you.” Thick eyelashes batting, Shelby’s almond-shaped eyes delved into her. She held onto Briony’s hand a bit longer than was comfortable, even squeezing it slightly. When she finally released it, she swung around and sashayed to her car. She stopped, as if she were thinking of something. Spinning quickly on her heel, her gaze fused with Briony’s again. “Why don’t we all have drinks together? Are you both free tonight?”

Daniel’s face lit up. “I’m free.”

Shelby stared so intently as to read Briony’s most intimate thoughts. “And you, Miss Martin? Are you free as well?”

The woman’s teasing and direct gaze were unnerving. Briony felt her face burn with mortification. Shelby Dark was flirting with her! And Daniel didn’t even seem to notice. He stood there gawking at the woman like a lovesick puppy.

She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “I’m spending the evening with my friend and her family. But thank you for the invitation,” she added to be courteous.

“That’s too bad,” Shelby replied. She returned her bored gaze to Daniel. “Looks like it’ll be just you and me, Mr. Collier. Seven o’clock tonight. My place.” She rattled off the address. “Can you remember that?”

“Yes. I know the neighborhood. I’ll be there.” A stupid grin plastered his face.

“Ta-ta.” She slid onto the leather seat of her convertible, gunned the motor, and left the parking lot in a swirl of dust.

Daniel climbed into his vehicle, moving like he had music in his bones. Briony had been so sure he was in love with Sharlyn. But it seemed all thoughts of the princess-like medium had been erased within moments. Her flamboyant twin with the firecracker attitude had captured his unbridled interest. Briony recalled the way Shelby had looked at her and shivered. She hoped Daniel hadn’t made a mistake in agreeing to meet her for drinks. She had a feeling the woman’s claws were sharper than a tiger’s.

~ * ~

Upon returning home, Daniel began unloading the chairs from the trunk of his car into the shed in the back yard. Paige still wasn’t home, so Briony decided to take advantage of a few moments of privacy and call John.

With a racing pulse, she sat at the telephone table in the hallway and dialed his number. The sound of the ring sounded far away in her ear. One, two, three, four jingles. No answer. She hung up and expelled a disappointed breath. He was probably out on a job.

She’d gotten halfway up the stairs when the telephone blared. Daniel was still outside, so she dashed down the steps and into the hall and grabbed the receiver.

“Hello, Collier residence.”

After a brief pause, a deep voice said, “Briony? Is it you?”

Her heart ricocheted in her chest. “Yes, John! It’s me. I just tried to call.”

“I was unlocking the door and stepping through when I heard the phone ring. I couldn’t reach it fast enough. I took a chance calling your friend’s number, thinking it might have been you.”

Unexpected tears sprang into her eyes. “It’s so good to hear your voice, John. I thought something terrible had happened. Paige gave me your message last night, and I was relieved to know it was only laryngitis.”

“I’m sorry to have worried you. I should have asked someone to phone and explain. But then, I couldn’t talk, so that would have been hard to do.” A deep chuckle rumbled up from his belly.

Briony smiled. “It’s all right.” Her heart twisted with longing, picturing his face. “Your message said you’ve got some free time coming up, and you plan to visit Kansas.”

“If you still want me to.” His voice teased.

Sparks flew through the telephone line to light a fire between them. “Of course I do! I’ve been waiting three months to see you again. I was afraid you’d changed your mind.”

“Not a chance. I’ve been a fool to have not made time before now. But as I explained in our phone conversations, work piled up when you left Maine and I couldn’t get away. I’m not letting anything stop me now. Would next weekend be too soon?”

“Next weekend?” Valentine’s day was next Saturday. “No! It’s not too soon. Will you fly or take the train?”

“I’ll fly. I’ve already checked the airlines and schedules.”

“You have?” Briony felt her heart would burst from her chest. “Oh, John, this is wonderful news. I can’t wait for you to meet my mom and for me to show you around Wichita.”

“I’m looking forward to both. But more than that, I’m anxious to spend time with you again. I don’t care if we sit and stare at each other all day.” His voice thickened with emotion. “I can’t wait to hold you in my arms and kiss you. Every night I dream of the kisses we shared on Cape Marble.”

A thrill raced up her spine and tingled the nape of her neck. “I do, too,” she softly replied.

Aware that the long-distance minutes were ticking by, she decided not to rack up the cost by explaining what had happened at Dark Hall last night. Aside from some peculiarities, there didn’t seem to be any illegal activities going on there, as far as she could tell. Anyway, she wasn’t going back, and Daniel was a grown man capable of making his own decisions, right or wrong. There was no advice she needed from John.