Lucky Break (22 page)

“Or was tampered with?” she asked.

“I knew you were smart.” He grinned. “Okay, what reason would your sister have for sending Brody Pittman here to screw with the house?”

Lauren hazarded a guess. “She didn't want me to sell it?”

He leaned against the counter. “But why would she go to such lengths to hold on to this old place? Sentimental reasons? Or something else?”

Lauren shrugged. “I don't know.”

She sounded frustrated and he didn't blame her. “Let's backtrack. What else did the doctor say?”

She closed her eyes, trying to remember. “He said Beth had been agitated ever since our visit.”

Just as Jason thought, her sister had reacted to their conversation. “And we discussed the Corwin Curse and the journal,” he said, naming the two things Beth had responded to. “And then she escaped. Because…”

“She wanted something.”

“The journal?”

Lauren sighed. “That might have been the impetus for her escape, but what about before? What was she sending Brody Pittman here to find?”

They stared at each other blankly, until something else niggled at the back of his mind. “Um, Lauren?”

“Yes?”

“If Beth is looking for something in this house, she
will
come back here.”

Lauren shivered. “The police aren't sitting in their car anymore. They're doing drive-bys.”

“I know.” Another reason Jason refused to go home.

Lauren shifted uncomfortably. “I still don't think my sister would hurt me,” she said at last.

Jason, on the other hand, wasn't so sure.

 

G
ABRIELLE HAD
an impromptu book-signing and speaking engagement in Boston. She'd invited Amber and Mike and Jason and Lauren. Despite the awkwardness between Jason and Lauren, they'd agreed to go. For Gabrielle's sake.

Lauren was excited. A night away from the house. A night on the town. An evening when she could wear fun, funky clothing, put her troubles behind her and just have a good time.

She'd even taken the morning off from working on the house to head over to the nearest mall for a quick shopping trip. She couldn't drive to New York for her clothes, but she could afford a few purchases on her credit card, or so she told herself as justification.

No sooner had she walked into the house and placed her bags on the floor than the doorbell rang. She shrugged off her jacket, placing it on the coat stand, then looked through the peephole before opening the door to one of the local cops she'd met before.

“Ms. Perkins, may I come in?” the officer asked.

A chill rushed through Lauren as she nodded and stepped back to let him inside.

“What's wrong? Did you find my sister?” she asked, visions of a shoot-out running through her mind.

“What's going on?” Jason asked, striding up to her side.

He acknowledged the cop with a nod of his head.

“He was just about to tell me.” Lauren swallowed hard, unable to keep the tremor from her voice.

Jason placed his hand on her shoulder and she appreciated the support.

The officer took off his hat and tucked the cap beneath his arm. “No, ma'am. We haven't located your sister but we did have a report of a sighting.”

Lauren's heart pounded hard in her chest.

“Where?” Jason asked.

“There was a convenience store robbery across state lines in Rhode Island. The suspects fit the description of your sister and her accomplice. Witnesses claim they took off in a southwesterly direction. Away from here.”

“Robbery?” Lauren could barely speak through her dry mouth.

The officer nodded. “I'm sorry to have to add to your burdens, but that's the most recent update.”

“We appreciate it,” Jason said. “Is the search focused in Rhode Island now?”

“It's as good a lead as we've got, so the Rhode Island authorities are following up. Of course we'll still be vigilant here. This is her home, and if she panics and needs help, she might come to you.” He studied Lauren intently, as if sizing her up.

“What?” she asked, uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

“If you hear from her, you
will
let us know?”

“Of course! And I don't appreciate you thinking otherwise.”

Jason's grip on her shoulder tightened. “He's just doing his job.”

She nodded. Antagonizing the police wasn't a smart strategy.

“If there's anything else you can tell us that you think might help find her, call. I'll let myself out. Lock the door behind me.” He tipped his head and started for the door.

Then he was gone.

“Robbery?” Lauren asked.

“You can't even pretend to know what's in her mind anymore,” he said.

She nodded. “You're right about that. If she's in Rhode Island and heading away from here, do you
think she's given up on whatever it is she wants from this house?”

Jason spread his hands in front of him, apparently as confused as Lauren was. “Like I said…”

“I can't begin to guess at what's going on in her mind.” She sighed then met Jason's gaze. “Hey. Why didn't you tell the police there might be something here she'd come back for?” Lauren bit the inside of her cheek.

It hadn't been easy for her to remain silent. She'd been surprised Jason had kept quiet, too.

He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, staring at her. “I did it for you. We have no solid proof she wants anything here, just a series of coincidences like you said. I figured I'd give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Even if you are certain she's behind the vandalism, the tampering and the arson?”

He nodded, not denying his belief. “Even then. She escaped. She'll be caught eventually and the truth will come out.” His expression filled with compassion and, despite the emotional distance between them, something that looked suspiciously like love.

Lauren's heart beat more rapidly in her chest, her emotions a rioting mix she didn't know how to deal with. And as long as he kept his feelings
inside, as long as he kept sending out mixed signals instead of overt ones, she didn't have to.

She ran her tongue over suddenly dry lips. “I don't know what to say except thank you.”

She might not have anticipated her sister would fake mental illness, but she had to believe that whatever Beth's motives had been, she was far away from here by now.

 

“T
HEY HAVE TO LEAVE
the house sooner or later,” Brody said in the whiny voice Beth had come to hate. She cringed every time he opened his mouth.

Still, she'd needed him and he'd come through. She'd managed to contact him with the nurse's cell phone and leave a message. He'd gotten into the prison by telling them he'd left his tools behind, and a little fire had distracted people, enabling him to sneak her out amid the chaos. Minimum security and paying close attention to who was stationed where had helped.

But now that she was out, she didn't need Brody anymore. Only he didn't take a hint. Why would he when he knew about the diamonds, Beth thought, frustrated.

“Beth? Can't you figure something out?” he asked.

“We need to have patience.” She glanced around
the hiding place she'd chosen, a detached garage in a neighbor's house next to her old home. It wasn't comfortable but it was safe.

These neighbors spent winters in Florida, and like most people in town, they didn't use burglar alarms. In this old garage, they'd had no reason. Even better, this particular neighbor had had a property line dispute with her grandmother. They'd lost in court, naturally. It had been so easy for her grandmother as mayor to switch old land surveys on file. Beth figured it was smart of her to pick a house where there was no love lost between the owners and the Perkinses. Less chance of the police thinking Beth would be hiding out there.

“I'm hungry,” Brody said.

Another whine.

Beth gritted her teeth. “Then you should have chosen a convenience store with more cash in the register because we need to ration what little we have.”

After leaving the prison, they'd ditched the car in a busy parking lot and walked until they found an unlocked car Brody could hot-wire. Another thing he'd been good for besides sex.

There wasn't much else. He'd forgotten to bring cash for their road trip, leaving them no choice but to knock over a convenience store. It had been her
idea to drive to Rhode Island for the job, keeping far from home. And in case anyone watched them leave afterward, she made sure Brody drove in the opposite direction from home. They'd waited a day in a motel, where she'd cut and dyed her hair, after which they'd doubled back on side roads to end up here.

“Can't we go in when they're asleep to get the diary?” Brody asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“No! I'm not risking having to hurt my sister.” Considering she had no idea where Lauren had put the damned thing, they'd need time to search.

They'd just have to wait until both Lauren and her Corwin boyfriend decided to leave the house together.

L
AUREN CLOSETED HERSELF
in the bedroom to dress for Gabrielle's book signing. All the workmen were gone for the day except for J.R., the plumber, and she didn't want company while she was changing.

Since the news that Brody Pittman was her sister's accomplice, J.R. had insisted on coming by the house to check the boiler work and replace some of the pipes. He said he'd also check everything out as all Pittman's work was now suspect. Lauren appreciated J.R.'s diligence and she hoped Brody Pittman hadn't cost her extra money she didn't have to spend on this house.

To work on the boiler, he'd had to turn off the heat and it hadn't taken long for the cold weather outside to seep inside and turn the house into a virtual freezer. Earlier in the day, she'd made a fire in the bedroom fireplace, a nice feature in this old New England home. Lauren had decided to toss
Clara's log in for good measure and she wondered if any of the positive energy had taken hold. She could use some, if such a thing was possible. Time would tell. A small flame still crackled and burned, but clearly it was almost out.

She freshened her makeup and dressed in tapered black slacks, a bright multicolored silk blouse belted at the waist and, of course, her favorite red fringed boots. One last look in the mirror, a quick fix of her bangs, and she was ready to go.

She found Jason in the kitchen talking with J.R. and she took a moment to savor the sight of him. He wore a cream-colored sweater, black denim jeans and loafers, and looked so sexy she wished things between them were back the way they had been a few short weeks ago. She hoped he'd lower his defenses for the night at least, so they could enjoy the signing.

And each other.

Besides, she didn't need his cousins noticing tension and trying to play matchmaker when there was clearly nothing left to bring them together.

A knot the size of a walnut wedged in Lauren's stomach. Ridiculous, since she hadn't wanted any ties to this town when she left for good.

She didn't miss the irony in her life. She'd driven in on a high in her beloved red convertible. She'd be leaving in a rental car, feeling depressed and blue.

 

J.R.
GAVE
J
ASON
a rundown of what he'd found during his inspection of the plumbing. The good news was that the work Brody Pittman did in the house was sound. It also appeared that the man had lied about some of the other items that needed replacement and repair—obviously in a bid to buy himself more time in the house. More positive news for Lauren's checkbook.

“Hi,” she said, announcing her presence.

“Hey.” Jason glanced up and the breath was sucked out of his lungs.

She'd chosen a soft, flowing blouse with a deep vee, showing more than a generous hint of cleavage while covering everywhere else. Completely appropriate yet seductively sexy, he thought. And her long hair fell over her shoulders, thick and shiny, begging for him to run his hands through it. Better yet, he wanted to feel those silky strands over his naked body. Jason swallowed a groan.

“Hey there,” J.R. said. A decade older than Jason and happily married, the other man couldn't tear his gaze away from Lauren, either. “Don't tell my wife I said so, but you look beautiful tonight.”

A flush stained her cheeks. “Thank you!” Her gaze slid to Jason.

“Perfect,” he agreed. “Are you ready?”

“I sure am.” Her eyes sparkled with an excitement that was contagious.

“Have fun, you two. And don't worry about the plumbing. Everything looks good. Better than we could have hoped.”

Relief flashed over Lauren's face. “Thank you. That's wonderful.”

“My pleasure.”

The three of them walked out of the house together. A few minutes later, J.R. pulled out of the driveway and his truck disappeared down the street.

Jason and Lauren settled in his car and buckled their seat belts. He started the engine, but before putting the gears in reverse, he stretched his arm over the top of the seat and turned to Lauren.

“You look beautiful,” he said, unable to hold back the honest words.

She treated him to the first wide smile he'd seen in too long. “Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself.”

“Thanks.” He accepted the compliment with a grin. “I appreciate you coming tonight. Especially with everything going on. It means a lot to Derek and Gabrielle. And to me.”

She nodded. “I'm honestly looking forward to it!”

“Great. Then let's get going.” He backed out of the long driveway.

They drove past the residential neighborhood and reached the turn into town. He was halfway down Main Street when Lauren started to frantically paw through her purse and mutter softly.

“What's wrong?” he asked.

“I forgot my cell phone.”

He slowed the car. “Want to go back?”

She nodded. “I'm sorry, but in case there's news about my sister, I need to have my phone.”

He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. “No problem. It's still early.” He managed a three-point turn and was about to drive off when someone waved at them.

“It's Uncle Hank,” Jason said, rolling down his window.

“Where are you two off to? Oh, I know. Gabrielle's book signing.” He barely paused for a breath. “Even your father is going, but am I allowed? Oh no.”

“Why not?” Lauren asked.

“I've been banned!” Hank rolled his eyes. “Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?”

Jason grinned. “Not really. Remember the signing at the local library a few months ago?” Jason hadn't been in town but he'd heard all about it.

“Extenuating circumstances,” his uncle muttered.

“Ever since, Derek hasn't trusted him to behave,” Jason explained to Lauren.

“My own son. Isn't that an insult?” his uncle asked. “Besides, I had my reason. She was disputin' the Corwin Curse when everyone in this town knows how we Corwins suffered because of those dang Perkins!”

Jason stiffened and hit the window button as Hank began his familiar rant. “Goodbye, Uncle Hank,” he said, cutting off the older man's words.

Jason glanced at Lauren.

“I'm fine,” she assured him before he could ask.

But her set jaw told another story.

“I should be used to it by now,” she said.

But it was clearly a blow. And he knew better than to start any conversation that would lead to an argument, so he let the subject go.

Heading home, he pulled into the driveway. “Want me to go in for you?”

She shook her head. “I think I know where I left the phone. I'll be right back.”

She jumped out of the car.

Jason settled in to wait.

 

L
AUREN RAN BACK
into the house. She normally wasn't scatterbrained. In fact, she was pretty orga
nized by anyone's standards, but her sister's escape had distracted her.

She checked the kitchen first, thinking maybe she'd left her phone on the counter.

No luck.

However, she felt a cool breeze from the far side of the room and slowly walked to the back hall. Jason had long since fixed the broken locks and windows and nobody used this part of the house. An unsettling feeling overtook her. She flicked on the hall light, and sure enough, the glass panes above the outside door had been smashed. Someone had probably stuck their hand inside to open the door, which now swung in the wind.

A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold raced over her skin. She knew exactly who'd broken into the house.

“Beth.” Lauren shook her head in a combination of dismay and frustration. She hadn't thought her sister would come back here. Once again, Lauren had underestimated her devious sibling.

Suddenly, and Lauren hoped irrationally, she was afraid. She needed to get out of here. She couldn't walk over the broken glass without making noise or hurting herself. Her only option was to sneak out the front door as quietly as she'd come in. Then get Jason and figure out what to do.

Plan formulated, she took two steps back, hit a solid body and screamed.

A firm hand clamped over her mouth. “Be quiet.”

She considered biting him, but his grip was too tight. Her eyes teared at the painful pressure.

“I'm going to let go and you aren't going to scream. Understand?”

She recognized Brody Pittman's voice and nodded.

He slowly eased his grip.

She turned to face him, rubbing her sore cheeks at the same time. “Where's my sister?”

“Bedroom.” He nudged her in the side, pushing her closer to the door. “Just in case you get any funny ideas about trying to run—” He poked a sharp object into her back.

He had a gun.

Bile rose in her throat, but she remained calm. Her sister was a few feet away and Beth wouldn't hurt her.

How do you know that,
a little voice in her head asked. How could she assume anything about her sister now?

They approached the bedroom and Brody gave Lauren a rough shove into the room. “Look who I found.”

Lauren stumbled in and came face-to-face with her now red-haired sister. “Beth!”

“Lauren, why couldn't you have just stayed away?” Beth asked, sounding annoyed.

“I forgot my phone—” Lauren glanced around her room and realized Beth had been going through the drawers, tossing things onto the floor in search of—“What are you looking for?”

“The diary,” Beth said. “Just give me the diary you were talking about and go away. Forget you ever saw me here.”

Lauren blinked in surprise. “I can't do that!”

“Of course you can. And you will.”

“First tell me what is in the diary that's so important?” Lauren asked, needing to understand all the unanswered questions. “Why did it freak you out so much that I found it? And what are you looking for in the house?”

Brody groaned. “I'm tired of all this yapping. Her boyfriend's waiting out in the car. Just give us the diary!” He waved the gun at her, his frustration and intent clear.

Shaking, Lauren glanced at her sister.

“Put that away, you imbecile!” Beth's tone allowed for no argument.

Brody lowered the gun but he remained vigilant.

Beth met Lauren's gaze. “Look, I know you're upset…”

Lauren couldn't control the shrill laugh that escaped her throat. “You don't know anything about me or you wouldn't have put me through the hell of visiting you month after month in that psych ward, thinking you were lost forever!” Lauren wiped the tears in her eyes with her jacket sleeve.

Beth shrugged almost apologetically. “If it's any consolation, I
was
out of it until two months ago. But once I came to, I had to look out for myself, just like I've always looked out for you!”

Lauren's head began to pound, and with every bizarre word her sister uttered, the pain grew worse. “You think you looked out for
me?
”

“Of course! Look at the mistakes you made. Going out with Jason Corwin when you were seventeen. If I hadn't shown Grandmother your diary, who knows where you'd be today! Not on your way to Paris, that's for sure.” Beth folded her arms across her chest, proud of herself.

Lauren couldn't believe what she was hearing. “You showed Grandma my diary? How could you?”

Beth waved away Lauren's question. “You don't have to thank me. I'd do the same today if I could, but I have more important things to do.
You're going to have to come to your senses and get rid of Jason Corwin on your own this time.”

“Beth, listen. I have your lawyer working hard on getting you transferred to a good private psychiatric hospital. I sold my car to add to his retainer. Turn yourself in and this will all be okay.” She reached for her sister, but Beth stepped away.

“The diary. Where is it?” Beth asked harshly.

Startled at the change in her sister, Lauren merely pointed to the nightstand.

“Liar! We already looked there.” Without warning, Brody slapped her across the face, sending Lauren sprawling backward.

She righted herself before she fell to the floor. Hand on her cheek, she glared at him, choking back tears. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

“Don't you ever touch her again.” Beth glared at him, then turned back to Lauren, who didn't have the time to sort through her sister's oddly protective behavior.

“You were never like Grandmother or me,” Beth said. “We're the ones who understand what it means to be a Perkins. We know we have to protect the legacy. Keep the curse going. I need the diary,” she said, her tone too calm. But her eyes were growing more vacant, reminding Lauren of the day she'd set the fire at The Wave.