The Unrelenting Tide (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans - Christian Romantic Suspense) (10 page)

After tucking Marissa in, Carcen once again stood across from Devynne in her kitchen. She looked pale and careworn but he hadn’t forgotten that she’d wanted to talk to him about something earlier. “You alright?”

She nodded, but her fingers drifted to her temples rubbing slow circles.

“Here.” He took her shoulders and turned her around, then set to massaging the tension from her neck. “I wish you’d told me about this years ago. You’ve been dealing with stuff like this on your own for so many years. I could have been here to help you.”

She sighed. “I was afraid for you.”

He gritted his teeth. “I’m a cop, Dev. I think I can deal with something like a stalker.”

“So was Kent.”

She kept insisting that Kent had been killed by the man who’d stalked her. Why? There was no proof to support her, but on the other hand there was no corroboration to the contrary either. “You seem pretty sure this guy killed Kent. Why?”

“I-I d-don’t know…. Only…he was coming into the bathroom when you guys all arrived. I was in the last stall with Marissa tucked between the toilet and the wall, and I don’t think he would have seen Kent and I in the store when he first came in from the street. We were the only ones in there and we were over in the meat department hidden by all the shelves. Kent went to the till and kept the robber’s attention up there while I snuck into the bathroom to make the call. But…after…it was like he knew I was in there. Of course when you got there he disappeared out the back. I just…” She shook her head and stepped away, turning to face him, sincerity in her gaze. “I think it was him, Carcen. I do. Please be careful.”

He trailed his thumb over her cheek, warmed by her concern. “He’s locked up, Dev. There’s nothing he can do to me now.”

“That’s just it. How sure are you? What if we have the wrong guy?”

“We don’t. The evidence shows he was in your house. Wrote that message on your mirror.”

She tucked her lower lip between her teeth. “Today I was out at Mrs. Abernathy’s place. Her son is home from college and he recognized me. That hasn’t happened in a long time, but apparently he was quite a fan. Mrs. Abernathy told him he was mistaken. That I was just Devynne Lang. But she said he actually moved to California for awhile before I “died” hoping to meet me and that he had pictures of me all over his room.” She shuddered and moved closer to him.

He opened his arms and she stepped in and leaned against him. Doing his best to ignore the ramped up thudding of his heart, he swallowed. “Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier at mom and dad’s place?”

“Yes.”

“Did he believe her, do you think? That you weren’t Shania Hane?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. When I left he called out that it was nice to meet me. I didn’t know if he meant me Devynne, or me Shania.”

“He’s just a kid, Dev. I coached him a few years back. A bit of an odd-duck, but not dangerous. Still, I’ll look into him, and just to be safe, humor me and don’t go anywhere alone again, okay?”

She nodded and pressed her forehead into his chest. “I hope you’re right. I just want all this behind me.”

“Soon.” He rested his mouth against the top of her head and tried not to enjoy the feel of her slender form in the circle of his arms too much. “Dawson’s arraignment will be in a couple weeks and then the trial shouldn’t be too long after that. We have short dockets here.”

He knew the minute she noticed where she was standing, because she stiffened and stepped back. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” She brushed at his shirt as though to dust away her presence but the stroking of her fingers only made him want to pull her close again, and this time not for a chaste hug.

He caught her hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

She glanced at their clasped hands. Her eyes widened and her chest rose and fell in rapid succession, but she didn’t try to pull away. Her gaze lifted to his.

He swallowed, willing down his heart rate, even as his thumb skimmed the warmth of her knuckles.

Now was the time for him to make his exit before he did something that might push her away. Smiling softly, he squeezed her hand and let it go. He stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets where he could ensure their obedience. “I should be going. I’ll see you tomorrow at church?”

She made a little sound in her throat and looked down, taking a step back herself. “Yes. See you then.”

From the aft rail of his boat out on the water he waited until her living room lights went off. He smiled. Only a minute more now….

Through his night vision goggles Sheriff Lang’s red heat-signature ambled up the steps on the inland side of the yard. But instead of getting in his truck and driving off, the man entered the little guest house at one side of the curved driveway.

He dropped the NVG’s to his side and swore as he stared out over the moon-brushed water.

He’d known he’d have to deal with new locks. And maybe even a security system – both of those could be overcome. But if he made a mistake and she screamed for help or the alarm started going off… The last thing he wanted to do was get into it with Sheriff Lang.

He stuffed the binoculars back into his duffle and scrubbed a hand over his face with a growl of frustration. He stared at the dark shape of the house, with moonlight highlighting its roof and deck rails, debating.

He grunted. He’d waited this long. A few more days couldn’t hurt.

Looked like it was time to grab some shut-eye.

Tomorrow was another day full of promise.

Hauling up the anchor, he cranked the key and motored away only allowing one glance back. All lay dark and quiet and the temptation was almost too strong. But no… he would bide his time. With a sigh he turned his focus toward the marina.

Soon…

Chapter 11

Sunday morning Devynne dropped Marissa off in her Sunday school class and eased her way quietly into the back row of the adult class. Carcen slid into the pew behind her. They were late.

The pastor’s wife glanced over and smiled. “‘Morning,” she mouthed, before turning her attention to what Pastor Jacobs was saying.

Only a few minutes later the pastor closed the lesson in prayer. The room filled with rustling as people gathered their Sunday school lessons, Bibles and notebooks. The gentle buzz of conversations floated across the room.

“Good morning,” Carcen said, his deep voice still a little gravelly, as though it hadn’t seen much use yet. He’d been waiting in his truck when she rushed Marissa out of the house that morning and had followed them to the service.

She turned to him with a smile, clutching her Bible to her chest. “Good morning. How’s my handsome prince?” She gasped and felt her face heat as soon as the words left her mouth.
Where in the world did that come from
?

Carcen chuckled. “Fine, considering I was jilted for an orange creamsicle.”

“I-, I-, I’m…” Devynne came to a lame halt, not really knowing what she wanted to say. “I’m sorry, I didn’t really mean that.”

He raised one eyebrow, a grin firmly in place. “I’m crushed. You don’t think I’m handsome?”

Devynne refused to acknowledge the answer to that question. “I mean, I don’t know where the thought came from. I just…” She waved a hand, licking her lips nervously. “I need to go pick ‘Rissa up from her class.”

She would have turned and hurried away as quickly as she could except that Carcen’s more-than-adequate frame blocked the way to the aisle.

Carcen moved down to the aisle, but took her by the elbow as soon as she was free of the pew. “Listen—”

“Carcen, how are you this morning?” An auburn-haired man with glasses that nicely framed his green eyes, stepped up beside them and reached out a hand to Carcen.

“Randy.” Carcen seemed surprised and a little less than thrilled to see the man. “I’m fine. You?”

“I’m good.” The man nodded, but he was no longer looking at Carcen. His twinkling gaze was fixed solely on her.

Her focus flickered to his left hand.
Single
. Dread formed a brick in her stomach.

Carcen chuckled dryly. “Randy I’d like you to meet my friend, Devynne. Devynne this is Randy Wiseman.”

Devynne tried not to grit her teeth as she smiled and shook the man’s hand. This was why she normally slipped in and out as invisibly as possible. She had no desire to meet any single men, much less one as blatantly open about his interest as this one.

She looked at her watch. “Oh, you know I should go get Rissa. It was nice to meet you. I’ll be right back.”

Randy touched her elbow and stepped halfway to block her path. “Carcen won’t mind running down to get her for you, will you Carcen?”

Carcen looked blank for a moment, but then shrugged. “Uh sure. Room?”

“104,” she offered lamely.

Carcen touched her elbow and gave her a reassuring wink before he headed down the aisle.

Devynne seethed inwardly but tried not to show it. What was she going to talk about with this man? She wasn’t, that’s what. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go to the back and wait for Carcen.”

He stepped out of her way but said, “I’m not very subtle am I?”

Devynne’s mouth dropped open for a moment before she grinned. “Well, no.”

“Carcen told me about your husband. I’m very sorry.”

“Thank you.” Devynne couldn’t help but be touched by his straightforwardness. It wasn’t often that she met someone willing to openly talk about Kent.

“I lost my wife just two years after we married,” Randy continued. “That was five years ago.”

“I’m so sorry. How did she die?”

He blinked green eyes behind his glasses. “She was hit by a drunk driver.”

Devynne stood silently for a long moment, lost in thoughts of her own.

“It’s a terrible shock isn’t it?” Randy asked into the silence. He stared at the floor, apparently lost in a distant memory. “One minute they’re there, happy and healthy, and the next moment they’re gone. I don’t think I’ll understand, till my dying day, why God chooses to allow some things.”

Devynne blinked and nodded. “That was one of the hardest things for me. Not understanding. If I had to live without Kent I at least wanted to know
why
.” She sighed. “But I’m coming to realize that we’ll never understand until we get to heaven.”

The music started, indicating that the church service was about to begin and Devynne smiled at him. “It was nice to meet you. I really better go find Carcen and my daughter before the service begins.”

“The pleasure was all mine.”

She moved out into the foyer of the church scanning the thinning crowd for Carcen or Marissa who would need to use the facilities before services.

Standing on tip-toe she peered over the cluster of people before her. Someone bumped her from behind and she fell against the shoulder of the man to her left. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

The man turned with a smile. “No problem—oh, good morning.”

It was the young officer who had been at the house with Carcen the other day.

“Good morning,” she stretched out her hand. “I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten—”

“Sanchez,” he cut her off with a don’t-worry-about-it wave. “Donny Sanchez.” He stretched out his hand.

She shook it, tucking his name away for future reference. Since he worked with Carcen, likely she’d bump into him again. “Nice to see you here. Have you seen Carcen this morning?”

He nodded. “Last I saw him,” he peered across the foyer, “he was just… there. See him?” He pointed.

Spying Carcen standing conspicuously outside the door to the lady’s room she couldn’t help the grin that sprang onto her face. She nodded and started his way, saying over her shoulder, “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around?”

“Yeah, sure.” He smiled. “Have a good day.”

“Thanks.” She waved and stepped around two men animatedly discussing the Mariners. Marissa had evidently remembered the go-potty-before-services-rule and Carcen had obliged by taking her. He was obviously out of his element. By the look on his face it was clear that he was in a dilemma. The foyer spanned the perimeter of the octagon-shaped church, and the bathroom sat in such a way that if he moved a few feet in either direction he would be around the corner and unable to see the door. He didn’t want to be anywhere near the lady’s room door, but he didn’t want Marissa to come out and have trouble finding him either. A mischievous chuckle threatened escape and she stepped quickly behind a potted palm before he saw her. Deciding to stay where she was and see what would happen, she peeked out through the green leaves.

Bible tucked under one arm, and hands clasped casually behind his back, Carcen was quite obviously trying to look like it was perfectly normal for him to be pacing like a caged cougar outside the women’s restroom - and doing a very poor job of it. The door opened and he turned towards it a look of relief on his face only to discover that it wasn’t Marissa but Mrs. Jacobs, the pastor’s wife. A dull red spread up his neck and he quickly twisted away.

“Good morning, Carcen,” the lady murmured to him in her exquisitely cultured voice.

“Morning, Ma’am,” he responded quietly.

When a smile sprang into the elderly lady’s eyes the moment her back was to Carcen, Devynne bit her lip to keep from giggling. Mrs. Jacobs passed Devynne with a wink, saying quietly, “You better go rescue him, dear. Mrs. Johnson is in there. We don’t want him to pass out right here in the foyer.”