Tide Will Tell (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans) (21 page)

“Kate?” Sam touched her arm.

Jerking back from the memory, Kate realized she’d been staring off into space. “So I grabbed my backpack and ran. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You couldn’t call the police?”

“Maybe I should have, but I was afraid because of what Detective Johnson had said. I thought if I went to the police, they’d arrest me. So I ditched my lab coat and kept moving till I made it to the Greyhound station. I looked to see when the next bus was leaving, and it happened to be going to San Francisco.”

“You ran away a second time?”

“Yes. The good thing was that I always kept my most important possessions with me in my backpack.” She took in a deep breath, confident that she should include the next part. “It wasn’t until I was holed up in a seedy motel room in San Fran that I remembered I also had the money pouch. I took it by accident.”

Sam raised an eyebrow.

“Please don’t tell Chase,” Kate quickly added. “I haven’t told him that part yet.”

With a slow blink of understanding, Sam nodded. “And you couldn’t return it because you were afraid of Joe?”

“Right. And of Detective Johnson finding me.”

“So, how much was in the pouch?”

Kate gulped. “Almost a quarter of a million.”

“A quarter million
dollars?
” Sam’s eyes shot open. “That was his take for one day?”

“Yeah. It was a good day.”

“So what did you do?”

“The only thing I could think to do. I dyed my hair blonde, changed my name from Kathy to Kate, and got a job in a place called The Club After Five”.

“Is that a restaurant?”

She took in a breath. “Sort of. It’s more of a Gentleman’s Club. Anyway, I got asked to move into an apartment that five of the girls who worked there shared. It wasn’t great, but it was in a safer neighborhood than that motel and it was good to have people to walk home from work with.”

“So the club is where you met Chase?”

She nodded. “He came in one night with a group of guys for a business meeting. He was so nice, and
different
than the other customers. He seemed kind of protective of me in a way.”

“It sounds just like Chase to want to protect a pretty young woman.”

“Especially one with blonde hair and blue eyes?” Kate looked down, still feeling conflicted about that point. “He came in a couple more times, by himself. He just sat at the bar and had a drink, and struck up a conversation when he saw me.

“Then one night I went in to work and there was Detective Johnson sitting at the bar. I panicked. I ducked back into the room we used for our breaks and one of my roommates confronted me. She said he’d been asking around about me, and told me that if I was in trouble with the law I’d have to move out. I knew I couldn’t stay at my job either if Johnson was onto me. Chase happened to walk by and he heard me crying hysterically. He asked if there was anything he could do to help me. I just sort of blurted out my story.” She looked away. “Except the part about the money.”
And Karen.

She sniffed and went on. “He told me he wanted to help me, and he took me to a nice hotel and put me up in my own suite. All by myself with no strings attached. Over the next few weeks, we just got to know each other. And he meant what he said. No strings attached.”

“That does sound just like Chase. He has such a big heart.”

“I honestly don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t shown up in my life. He was a real angel. That’s why I have a hard time believing he could have harmed anyone.”

“Trust your instinct, Kate. I’ve known Chase most of my life. He’s had a couple of rough breaks, but the man you met in San Francisco is the real Chase.”

Kate smiled.

“And I’m relieved to know you’re not marrying him for his money.”

Kate thought back on everything she had just told her. Had she made that clear?

Sam met her questioning gaze. “I know that, because you have enough money to keep yourself safe.”

“Oh, but…” Kate cut herself off. She had never even considered using the stolen money, but if knowing she had it assured Sam of her intentions with Chase, then maybe that was okay.

Sam let out a sigh. “And now, it’s getting late.” She stood, stretching her arms over her head. “I’m guessing you could use some good rest.”

Kate couldn’t help a yawn. “You’re right about that.”

A few minutes later, Sam began checking all the doors as Kate braced herself for her careful trek down the stairs to the lower level.

“Oh, Kate.” Sam stopped abruptly as if jarred by recollection. “I meant to tell you this earlier.” She crossed to the wall near the top of the stairs where Kate stood, and put her hand on a white box, similar to the ones in the house. “I don’t want you going up and down the stairs any more than necessary. If you need anything, just call me on the intercom. There’s one right next to your bed.”

“Thanks, Nurse Sam.”

Sam’s eyes twinkled. Clearly, she enjoyed the opportunity to dote on people.

After making the slow journey to the lower level, Kate hobbled down a short hallway and entered the master suite. This room occupied the tip of the boat and made Kate feel like royalty. She quickly changed and slipped into the humongous bed, which was situated in the middle of the room. She reached over and turned off the light, sinking into the fluffy pillow and gazing at the windows making up the V-shaped end of the room.

As she looked out at the lights of the Shaw Island ferry landing in the distance, a sense of security warmed her as much as the downy duvet. Joe couldn’t get to her out there.

She allowed her eyes to close and a feeling of peace to claim her. She would dream of Chase and the life they would share together. Yachting. Maybe even traveling once the media frenzy died down. Life would be good, and filled with love and passion.

Passion
….

As she started to drift off to sleep, an image soothed her mind. Embraced by warm, strong arms, a sense of love and security which she had never known before surrounded her. In the soft haze between sleep and wakefulness, she felt her head tip back to look into the eyes of the man she adored.

Josh.

Her eyes popped open.
Josh?

She sat up, her heart hammering in her throat. Her mind had wickedly shone a light on the secret her heart had kept hidden for the past three days. An ache…no a
yearning
for Josh.

What had triggered the release of this longing that her logical mind had known was best kept concealed? His phone call. That was it.

She let out a groan. Getting so caught up in her conversation with Sam, she’d completely forgotten to check for a message. She was way too comfy now to trudge all the way back upstairs, and in spite of Sam’s instruction, she would feel like a total brat asking her to bring her purse down to her. It was no big deal. Even if Josh had left a message, it could wait until morning.

Closing her eyes again, she listened to the soft sloshing of the waves outside and the occasional cawing of some kind of a bird. She’d gotten what she needed—reassurance, from a reliable source, of Chase’s innocence. Everything would be okay.

With her course laid out before her, she finally felt truly safe.

Cautiously, she closed her eyes again, praying that a certain handsome future filmmaker wouldn’t invade her dreams.

Chapter 22

Relaxing into one of the cushy chairs on the deck of the main house, Kate suffered a sudden pang of consciousness. All night and through breakfast, she’d done such a great job of pushing Josh to the back of her mind that she’d forgotten to check for a phone message. With a resigned sigh, she grabbed her purse from the floor next to her and began diligently digging through it.

Sam glanced at her from behind the morning newspaper. “Did you lose something?”

Kate frowned into the depths of her purse. “I know I put my phone back in here last night.”

Compassion filled Sam’s dark brown eyes. “Maybe it fell out and slid between the sofa cushions. We can check once we’re back out on the yacht.”

Kate gave one last look before giving up. How she managed to own minimal possessions yet still collect so much useless junk in her purse was one of God’s great mysteries.

A quick glance at her watch told her that it was nearly eleven fifteen. Even if she’d missed a message from Josh, it didn’t really matter now. He’d be here soon anyway.

Setting her bag on the cushioned ottoman which supported her leg, she massaged her knee and let her gaze wander. The vibrant blue sky promised a brighter day, just as the details Sam had shared the night before had assured her of a secure future.

“It’s warm this morning.” Sam placed the newspaper down on the table between them, then slipped off her beige linen jacket and tossed it onto the chaise behind her. “But the paper predicts a storm later on. We should enjoy the sunshine while we can.”

Noticing for the first time that a dramatic patch of gray loomed in the distance, Kate decided to drop the weather-paralleling-her-life analogy. This was just the climate of her new home. Unpredictable and constantly changing. There was no reason to think her happy ending would follow the same pattern.

Angling her wrist to check her watch for the umpteenth time, she caught herself. What was she doing? If her happy ending was secured, why did she keep wondering when Josh would show up?

She sighed. It wasn’t any big mystery, really. He was an attractive, single guy who happened to share some of her interests. But her life was what it was, and she couldn’t change that. She might not get to have the passion she longed for, but that was part of the price she’d pay for her safety. Things were working out perfectly with Chase, and Josh had just been a temporary distraction.

Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about his being there. He needed a job, and it had already been promised to him. Controlling her thoughts, and acting like a boss, not a friend, would be the only way to hold her emotions in check.

Tipping back her head, she studied the wispy clouds directly above. Thank goodness she hadn’t told Josh about Joe. How did she know he wouldn’t have told his best friend, the cop, and blown her cover completely?

The rustling of newspaper brought her out of her thoughts, and she glanced at the section Sam had just set on the table.

“Oh my gosh.” Snapping it up, she read the headline. “‘
Shania Hane Faked Death to Elude Stalker’.
”

“Isn’t that something?” Sam looked up. “She was living in Friday Harbor under an assumed name.”

“Josh and I met her the other day.” A tingle danced down Kate’s spine at the thought of telling him. “He swore it was her and I told him he was crazy.” She chuckled. “I guess I owe him another chocolate shake.”

Sam made a tsking sound. “That poor woman was being stalked to the point of having to kill her real identity and go into hiding.”

“Yes.” Kate bit her lip. “Kind of like me.”

A soothing look of motherly concern slipped over Sam’s features. “Don’t you worry.” Her words sounded soft and reassuring. “You won’t have to hide forever.”

Kate gave her a light smile. Something about her certainty made Kate think she should believe her.

The French doors behind them clicked and Kate twisted around, hoping not to see Jessica or Stuart. The sight of Josh stepping out of the house in jeans, a t-shirt, and a cobalt blue cotton jacket sent all hope of controlling her thoughts sailing out into the bay. The best she could hope was for her emotions to not show on her face.

“Josh.” Twisting back around, she grabbed the newspaper and waved it in her hand as he crossed in front of her. She tried to suppress the heat that rose to her cheeks. “You’re not going to believe this.”

Ignoring the paper, he tipped a courteous if subdued greeting at Sam before returning his attention to Kate. “Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

Both his tone and his demeanor held an edge Kate hadn’t experienced from him before. Her heart sank. Had something changed?

Lowering the paper, she sputtered, “I…I lost it.”

“Well, that explains it.” Though softened, his voice left her with the distinct feeling that her carelessness had let him down.

His concerned gaze settled on her. “How are you feeling?”

“Sam wrapped my leg.” She gave a light smile that didn’t feel as reassuring as she hoped it looked.

“Kate is a very cooperative patient.” Sam rose to her feet. “And now that you’re here to look out for her, I’m afraid I have to head to the mainland.”

Kate gripped the newspaper, as something just short of panic crept in. She had assumed they’d have the day together to work on wedding plans. The idea of spending time alone with Josh now that…she gulped…now that her feelings had intensified, made her stomach hurt.

She looked at Sam. “I hope I haven’t been keeping you from your work.”

“It’s not a big deal.” Sam pushed to her feet and smoothed a hand over her linen pants. “Something’s come up and I need to go meet someone.”

Kate tried not to let her distress show. “Are you taking the yacht?”

“Oh, no. I have a friend on the other side of the island who sometimes loans me his powerboat. It’s easier than the yacht, and I hate being a slave to the ferry schedule.” Sam bent down to give Kate’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be back later today and we can return to the yacht together.”

Kate watched as Sam headed into the house. Cautioning a look at Josh, she chewed on her lip, anxious to regain the rapport they’d had up until now but needing to let him know she had set her boundaries.

He stood there next to the deck rail, neither leaning nor sitting, as if he might be planning on leaving too. She looked down at the newspaper she still held in her hands, then tossed it onto the table. Even if he wasn’t interested in discussing the article, surely he’d want to hear what she’d learned about Chase. She attempted to sound earnest. “So, Sam told me everything about Emily and Trina. She’s known Chase since high school. Can you believe that?”

“Uh huh.” He seemed hesitant to hold her gaze, which was totally unlike him.