Sudden Second Chance (16 page)

“She was going back to do some work, not just for us. Anyone who knows Rebecca must know she burns the midnight oil at the office.”

“Especially someone like Bill Raney.”

As he hit the accelerator, Duke drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel. “She said some corporation had sold the property to Serena. Do you remember the name?”

“It was three letters. L something, but I’m not sure.”

“Why harm Rebecca over information like that? She’s not the only one who has access to those records. That’s public information.”

“I hope that’s you thinking out loud because I have no idea.”

“Unless it’s just to further intimidate you, drive you away.”

“Yeah, like that’s going to happen.”

“Beth—” he put a hand on her bouncing knee “—we can research that corporation and Bill Raney and Serena Hopewell from any place. Maybe you should spread it around that you’re leaving, there’s no story and you’re tired of the pranks against you.”

“And then actually leave?”

“Yes, leave. We can continue looking into all of it—the identities of those women, the history of that cabin.”

“I’ll think about it.” She pointed out the window. “Look! It’s a squad car in front of Rebecca’s office.”

“Good.”

As he pulled in behind the police vehicle, an ambulance came up the road, sirens wailing.

“Duke.” Beth grabbed his arm.

He threw the car into Park and shot out of the driver’s side just as another squad car squealed to a stop.

His gut knotted as he charged up to the front of the building.

Deputy Stevens stepped in front of him. “Oh, it’s you. You called it in, right?”

“What happened? Where’s Rebecca Geist?”

Stevens gestured him inside and Beth grabbed the back of his jacket, limping behind him.

Holding up a hand, Stevens said, “Beth, you might not want to go in there.”

“The hell I won’t.”

The revolving lights of the emergency vehicles lit up a hellish scene inside the offices of Peninsula Realty. Papers littered the floor, file cabinets lay on their sides, spilling their guts, computer equipment had been smashed and in the center of it all, Rebecca Geist broken and bloodied.

Chapter Seventeen

Beth cried out and staggered toward Rebecca. She dropped to the floor beside her. “She’s still breathing. She’s still alive.”

“We know that, Beth. The EMTs are here—make way.”

Duke touched her shoulder. “Let them do their work, Beth.”

She covered her face with her arm as Duke helped her to her feet. “Oh, my God. It looks bad.”

“She took a bad beating, but maybe we saved her life. There’s nothing we can do for her now.” Duke led Beth outside, where they spoke to the deputies.

They explained how Rebecca had been doing research for them on some cabins and how she’d complained of the office lights going out while she was on the phone with them.

Stevens asked, “Did she say anything else after that?”

“Her phone went dead and that’s when we called 9-1-1.”

“I was the one who responded first and I think I scared the guy off.”

“Did he leave any footprints? A weapon? If he beat her with his fists, you’re going to be looking for someone with some battered hands.”

“I think he may have used a hole-punch.”

“A hole-punch?”

“You know. One of those heavy, three-hole punchers? There was one next to the body. I’m sorry—next to Rebecca.” Stevens wiped his brow beneath his hat despite the chill in the damp air. “She was conscious when I got here and her pulse was strong. I think she has a good chance of making it.”

“Her fiancé.” Beth folded her hands across her stomach. “She’d just had dinner with him and he was on his way to New York.”

“Her coworkers will know how to reach him. From what I understand, he’s loaded, flies a private jet into Timberline.” Stevens waved the other deputy into the office. “What kind of research was she doing for you? Was it for the show?”

“There’s not going to be any show on the Timberline Trio for
Cold Case Chronicles
.” Duke curled his arm around her hip and pinched her. “Rebecca didn’t come up with anything new, and Beth’s decided there’s not enough for a whole episode on the case.”

“I’m sure quite a few people will be relieved to hear that. It’s a little different when you have the FBI working on something behind the scenes and not splashing it all over TV.”

“I may be wrapping up here soon, too.”

“Well, maybe those kids were snatched by that Quileute creature.”

“Not even the Quileute believe that, Sheriff.” Beth’s lips formed a thin line.

They said good-night to the sheriff and Duke caught Stevens’s arm. “You’ll let us know how it goes with Rebecca, right?”

Stevens shot a sidelong glance at Musgrove shouting orders and nodded. “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

Beth collapsed in the passenger seat. “I hope she’s going to make it.”

“I hope so, too. She had a lot of head wounds and those bleed profusely. It might look worse than it is.”

She pushed her hair from her face and pinned her shoulders against the seat back. “Before I do leave, Duke, I’m going to talk to Serena about her cabin.”

“Are you going to ask her who sold it to her? Because I can’t remember what Rebecca told us.”

“That’s one question.”

“You might want to ask her how she could afford to buy a cabin like that on a waitress’s salary—be more discreet than that, but you know what I mean. Don’t you think that’s weird?”

“That and the fact that she doesn’t even live in it and Doug told us it’s not rented out much.”

“Be careful, Beth. Let people know you’re done with the story, that you’re leaving town.”

“I will. I don’t want to get anyone else involved. I’ve put Scarlett in danger and now Rebecca.”

“And maybe Gary Binder.”

“Do you think he knew something about that cabin? Do you think he was at the hotel to talk to me?”

“Maybe, or it could be his drug connection.” He tapped his phone. “I got an automated email from the DEA tonight indicating the files I requested are ready for viewing, so I’m going to work on that tomorrow. And you’re going to work on getting a flight out of Seattle. I can drive you to Sea-Tac anytime.”

That night they made love again and she held on to Duke for dear life. If she had to give up her search in Timberline, he might be the only family she ever had.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
D
UKE
, already dressed in running clothes, woke her up with a kiss. “Wish you could come with me.”

She held up her foot. “As soon as this heals, I’ll be right there with you.”

“Do you want to have brunch at that River Café when I get back?”

“Okay, and then I’m going to find Serena and that’ll be it for me.”

“Which means you’ll be on your laptop this morning looking into flights from Seattle to LA and on the phone with Scott to tell him the story’s off.”

“Yes, sir.” She saluted. “Scott’s going to be so happy this fell through. He warned his father it was a bad story.”

“So, you get to keep your life and pump up Scott’s ego in the process. It’s a win-win.”

Two hours later they parted ways after brunch. Duke’s rental-car agency had replaced his SUV. Luckily for them, they had used different rental companies or one company would be left wondering just what the hell was going on in Timberline.

That was exactly what she wanted to know.

She drove into town, wishing she hadn’t eaten so much at brunch. When she sat down at the bar at Sutter’s she didn’t want Serena to think she was there just for her.

A call to Chloe had already confirmed that Serena was working today. When didn’t she work the bar at Sutter’s? Maybe that was how she could afford the upkeep on that cabin.

All eyes seem riveted to her when she walked into the restaurant. If someone wanted her out of Timberline, it could be any one of these people.

She hobbled to the bar on one crutch and hopped up on a stool.

Serena placed a cocktail napkin in front of her. “What can I get you?”

“I’m just going to have lunch again, if that’s okay.”

“Fine with me.” Serena dropped a menu on the bar and got a beer for another customer.

Beth made a show of studying the menu and then closed it and folded her hands on top of it.

Serena returned. “Ready?”

“I’ll have a ginger ale and a bowl of lentil soup.”

Serena shot the ginger ale into a glass from a nozzle. “Not too popular around here anymore, are you?”

“No, and I can’t do a show when the residents have turned against me. I’m calling it quits on this story.”

“You can’t blame people for getting cold feet. A lot of weird stuff has gone down since you’ve been here.”

“Yeah, like someone shooting the gas tank of Agent Harper’s rental car and blowing it up.”

“Shows how desperate some of these people are. You don’t mess with the FBI.”

“That explosion—” Beth toyed with her straw “—happened outside of your cabin.”

Serena’s eyes narrowed.

“I mean, you own that cabin, right?”

“I do. Excuse me.” Serena moved to the other end of the bar to take an order. She didn’t return to Beth until she brought the soup.

“One lentil soup.”

“Did you inherit that cabin?”

“Who, me? My folks never had any money, didn’t even come from this area.”

“So, you bought it?”

“I bought it after the Timberline kidnappings. Prices dropped off then. The lumber company had already pulled up roots. I got a good deal from an anxious seller.”

“That person must’ve regretted it once Evergreen Software moved in here and prices went up again.”

“Actually, it wasn’t a person, just some big corporation that owned other properties. I got lucky.”

“Is the corporation still around? What was the name of it?”

“Why do you care?”

Damn, she’d come across as too nosy. She took out her phone and feigned interest in her text messages. “I don’t, really. Just curious—occupational hazard.”

“I don’t remember the name of the company. I’d have to look it up in my paperwork, wherever that stuff is now. Oh, hello, Jordan. Can I get you something?”

Smiling at Beth, he pointed to her soup. “I’ll have some of that and a cup of coffee, if you’ve got some fresh.”

“Coming right up.”

Jordan swiveled on his stool to face her. “I heard you’re not going to do the story.”

“Word travels fast.” She placed her phone on the bar.

“Small town.” He lifted a shoulder. “Too bad.”

“Are you one of those who was pro-story? I would’ve thought you’d be against it because of the business interests you have here.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” He dumped some cream into the coffee Serena had brought him. “I’m a forward-thinking person. I think any publicity is good publicity. That whole mess with Carson kidnapping those kids and playing the hero didn’t hurt business or our reputation. Some people are too sensitive.”

“Like your friend Bill Raney.”

“Bill has a lot to be sensitive about. He’s a failure. People like me and that little firecracker, Rebecca Geist...we have nothing to fear.”

“Did you hear what happened to Rebecca last night?”

“Damned shame, but then, you tend to attract unwanted attention when you’re successful. Like you.” He sipped his coffee and met her gaze over the rim. “Do you really want to give up?”

“I don’t consider it giving up. There’s just not enough here to produce a compelling story.”

He winked. “You haven’t talked to me yet.”

“That’s not from a lack of effort. You’re a busy man, Mr. Young.”

“Jordan, and I’ve got some time right now. Maybe what I have to show you will make you reconsider your decision.”

Her heart thumped. Jordan had been around for a while. He just might know more of Timberline’s secrets than anyone else since he also seemed to be tight with the town’s movers and shakers.

“That depends on what you’ve got for me.”

“You know that cabin you wanted to see out on Raven Road? The one where the agent’s car exploded?” He hunched forward and cupped a hand around his mouth. “I can get you inside.”

Beth’s gaze darted to Serena counting money at the register. “It belongs to Serena.”

“Yes and no. Let’s just say it’s more complicated than that.”

“How can you get into the cabin?” She couldn’t exactly admit to Jordan that she’d already been inside. She didn’t want to get Duke into any trouble, especially if it turned out that Jordan knew the real owner.

“Let’s just say I’m like this—” he crossed his fingers “—with the management company.”

“H...he doesn’t have to be there, does he?”

“He doesn’t even have to know. It’ll be our secret.” He put his finger over his lips and glanced at Serena.

“Okay. What time?”

“How about right now? I don’t have any meetings until later this afternoon.” He rubbed his hands together when Serena put his soup in front of him. “Thanks.”

When she walked away, he dropped his spoon. “I’ll tell you what. You’re staying at one of my hotels, the Timberline, right?”

“Yeah, the one that needs cameras.”

“I have a little business to attend to there. Why don’t you head back to the hotel, let me finish my lunch, and I’ll meet you there and we can go over to the Ravens together.”

“The Ravens?”

“That’s what the cabin’s called. Most of the owners of these cabins, especially the ones outside of town, named their places.”

“I didn’t even know that road was called Raven Road.” Beth’s hands grew clammy just thinking about the Ravens and she grabbed a napkin and crumpled it in her fist. Her breath started coming in shallow gusts, and she slid from the stool. “Can you excuse me for a minute?”

She made a beeline for the ladies’ room and hunched over the sink, breathing in and out. Just talking about the cabin was causing her to freak out. How would she handle another visit there? But Jordan was offering her another opportunity to take a look at the place and she couldn’t refuse.

She splashed water on her face and gave herself a pep talk in the mirror. Pasting a smile on her face, she returned to the bar.

“Sorry about that. So, the Ravens is on Raven Road.”

Jordan studied her face for a second. “It’s a local name, not on the maps. Ravens are important to Quileute legends, so I guess that’s where it came from. Does that sound like a plan? You can wait for me in the parking lot of the hotel. I won’t be long, and then you can decide if you really want to give up on this story.”

“Okay. I’d love to see inside that cabin...for my own reasons.”

“Excellent.” He took a spoonful of soup into his mouth.

“Anything else?” Serena picked up Beth’s bowl and dropped the check.

“No, thanks.” Beth left some cash on the bar, swept her phone into her palm and nodded to Jordan.

Beth took her time getting back to the hotel, since Jordan had to finish his lunch anyway. She stopped by the market and picked up some water and a bottle of wine. If this was going to be her last night in Timberline with Duke, she might as well make it special.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket to leave him a text message. She tapped her screen, but her phone wouldn’t wake up. She powered it down and tried again. The battery must’ve died.

Jordan had said he had meetings in the afternoon, so they’d be done at the Ravens before Duke finished working on the DEA files anyway.

When she pulled into the hotel’s parking lot, Jordan was just walking out of the hotel.

She grabbed her crutch and scrambled from the car. “That was fast.”

“It was just soup. What took you so long?”

She held up the plastic bag with one hand. “Stopped for a few things.”

“Perishable?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you leave them in your car?” He looked at his watch. “My meeting was earlier than I thought, and I’m going to have to make this fast.”

“Oh, okay.” Leaning back into the car, Beth placed the bag on the passenger seat.

She used her crutch to navigate to his black sedan and the open passenger door.

“How’s that foot of yours?”

“It’s getting better. In a few days I think I can put more pressure on it and get around without using a crutch.”

He helped her into the car and slammed the door.