Timberline Trail (22 page)

Jon pulled on his snow gloves and
left, the snow crunching under his boots. Paul leaned forward excitedly.

“Now that we’ve got a couple of moments alone, I have to tell you something Tia.
When Kenny relayed Jon Simons had hired him to research your family, I had him do some counter-research for me. He found out a couple really interesting facts. Did you know that your dad re-wrote his will less than eight months ago?”

Tia shook her head in denial, surprised at the i
nformation. “I don’t know why dad would have done that. He’d split his share of the company three ways a few years ago. It was to go to Uncle Jeffery, RK and me in an even three-way split of the stock. He chose Uncle Jeffery and poor Andrew to head up the board positions. I repeatedly told him I didn’t want anything to do with the company anymore and didn’t want the stock. He always laughed at me. Did he give the shares to RK and Uncle Jeffery? That’s fine by me.

“No—that’s not what he did.”
Paul let the statement hang and Tia stared at him bewilderedly.

“Your dad was always a maverick,” said Paul tensely.
“After Andrew was murdered your father did a little detective work himself and discovered Andrew Carson owed money big time to a firm called Capital Amalgamated Investments or CAI. They’d advanced Andrew over a million dollars to create a new system designed to revolutionize the building safety industry. Anyway, Andrew needed more money so he borrowed from a silent partner. Unfortunately Kenny couldn’t discover that particular source’s name. What Kenny did find out however is that the deal went bust and Andrew Carson lost over two million dollars in the space of three months. Capital Amalgamated had to write the loss off, but Kenny figured the silent partner refused to forgive and paid Andrew back in a very violent way.”

“So that’s why Dad believed Andrew was mu
rdered? So why didn’t Daddy just tell the police?”

Paul shook his head vigorously.
“Kenny figured your father didn’t want Andrew’s widow to suffer the embarrassment of an investigation that was certain to paint her deceased husband in a bad light. It seems likely that Andrew, as his financial difficulties got worse and worse, decided to sell some of Heath Enterprises software secrets to a competitor.”

Tia snorted angrily, “I can’t believe it!
Andrew would never betray the company or my family like that.”

“Believe me,” said Paul solemnly, “
everybody
has their price and I tend to believe that Andrew’s was about two million dollars.”

Tia turned a disbelieving head away from Paul’s intense gaze, “What’s done is done,” she whispered, “and nothing can
change that now. Andrew’s dead and as far as I’m concerned, the secret died with him.” Her head jerked up. “But I don’t understand what this has to do with Jon. Why didn’t you want him to hear what you had to say about Andrew Carson?”

Paul swallowed.
Now that he’d arrived all this way it was still incredibly hard to tell her. “Kenny discovered he’s a co-owner of Capital Amalgamated and was very possibly Andrew Carson’s silent partner.

“Jon’s a photographer,” Tia denied ve
hemently, her heart protesting the very thought Jon might be capable of such betrayal.

“He might play a
t being a photographer as a hobby, but he’s Jon Edward Simons, co-owner of Capital Amalgamated Investments.”

“But his sister was murdered,” retorted Tia. “It doesn’t make sense.
He suspects
us
of killing his sister, so how could he be Andrew’s secret partner?”

“Well,” said Paul, placing his fingers end to e
nd and leaning toward the fire. “The only things I know for certain are that Jon Simons believes Heath Enterprises caused the death of his sister and that Andrew owed Jon’s dad a lot of money. It set him on your tail because he was positive your father had something to do with it all. There’s one other little tidbit I failed to mention. Remember when I told you that your dad changed his will. Brace yourself because you’re not gonna like this... Anthony Heath left
all
the shares to you Tia; he totally bypassed your Uncle Jeffery and RK.”

“Why in hell would he do that?” cried Tia, placing her hands over her ears.

“Maybe because you were the only one your dad really trusted. You didn’t care about the company; you made that clear to him every time you spoke. In the long run that might have been the best thing Anthony could hear. Why not will the company to someone who really didn’t want it? Whatever his reasons I’m certain those guys in your cabin came to kill you and your father because they believe you’d connected them to Andrew’s death.”

“But that doesn’t make any more sense than the rest of what you said.”

“Oh no? Who would stand to inherit the company if you and your dad were dead? Your brother RK and your Uncle Jeffery, along with hundreds of little stockholders.”

“I refuse to believe that RK, Uncle Jeffery
, or any of those little stockholders would want to hurt me! I’m nobody! This is like some nightmare come true. I only wanted a chance to write in peace and quiet, away from that rat race you call home! And just what in the hell are you doing here? You were never so attentive before and don’t even try to suggest you feel some sort of renewed affection for me. From how you treated me, I’d think you’d find all this quite amusing.”

“No,” said Paul sheepishly.
“I don’t. I... I have to admit your uncle asked me to come up here and keep an eye on you.”

“What? Oh
please!
Don’t tell me that he wants us to get back together again.”

“Well, not exactly,” said Paul in such a strange way that Tia jerked her head up to gaze at him.
Suddenly a very odd thought crossed her mind and she frowned, trying to chase the notion away. She cocked a head at Paul and questioned him with her eyes. Paul slowly nodded his head.

“Y
ou didn’t know about your Uncle Tia?”

“Know what?” she whispered, trying to deny something s
he’d suspected for a long time.

Paul cleared his throat.
“He’s gay Tia. That’s why he left your Aunt and why his relationship with your cousin Marilyn is so precarious. She never accepted his lifestyle, always denying it existed. Her forced distance from him is a terrible pain he has difficulty living with.”

“So if my U
ncle Jeffery is gay then you’re...?” She let the question dangle. “My God, you left me for him didn’t you?
He’s
the relationship you had to think about?”

Paul nodded bl
eakly. “I tried to go straight just as your uncle did, but failed miserably. I never meant to hurt you Tia. It was easier for you to believe I’d left you for another woman. I’d... I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell your lover boy, or anybody else for that matter. Your uncle’s got a reputation to protect, and me, well, I prefer to keep things private since I know my family would be hurt by my admission.”

“So you didn’t like me at all?”
asked Tia helplessly. “It was just another ploy?”

“No, it was an effort to comply with society’s rules; to fit in.
I decided that since I couldn’t level with you I’d at least let you off the hook. It was the least I could do for you and I’m very sorry if I hurt you.” Paul seemed truly contrite, and for some odd reason Tia suddenly felt immensely relieved. She had thought Paul vain, selfish, and superficial, but now realized he’d only been trying to protect himself and her from his secret. Deep down Paul cared about people. She’d just misunderstood which people he truly cared about.

“And now you’re here?”

“Your uncle is worried about you and your dad. He loves you very much Tia and hasn’t heard from your dad in over six months. I’m afraid they had a bit of a falling out over his changing the will. Your uncle realizes you didn’t want anything to do with the company and tried to explain that to Anthony but your dad wouldn’t listen. So, Jeffery sent me up here to check on you, deeply worried after he’d heard what Kenny had found out about Jon Simons. Besides, I felt I owed you something since I treated you so badly a year ago.”

He reached out a hand and Tia grasped it, suddenly feeling wearier than she ever had in her entire life.
No one was what they seemed and their personal secrets threatened to engulf her, rattling that hard-fought independence she so cherished. At least now she had a better handle on what Paul really was and in her heart, Tia readily forgave him, knowing he had not embarked on an easy path. The snow crunched behind her and she glanced up, her ungloved hand still holding Paul’s.

“The snowmobile’s ready,” Jon said roughly, his dark green eyes narrowing at the show of affection between the two.
A cold mask shut down over his lean face as a jay chattered in a distant pine and further off a screech of some kind of bird of prey shrilled through the crisp air.

“Then one of us has to go,” said Tia
, dropping Paul’s hand.

“You don’t have a two-way radio?” queried Paul.

“Yeah I do, but that radio’s inside my 4x4, which had its tires blown to smithereens outside Tia’s cabin,” said Jon sternly.

“So just h
ow long have you owned Capital Amalgamated Investments?” asked Tia abruptly.

Jon froze and flashed an angry look at Pau
l. “Why you stinking sewer rat! And just what else have you been feeding her?”

“Only
the truth about Andrew Carson’s affiliation with Capital Amalgamated and your role in all of this,” said Paul defensively.

Jon gave a snort of laughter.
“I have my sincere doubts you
really
understand my role in any of this. So Tia, the honeymoon’s over before it ever got started eh?” His jaw clenched. “That’s right... I’m a 50% partner in Amalgamated Capital Investments along with my father who inherited the company from his father. Guilty as charged!” He raised both his hands as though under arrest.

“You knew about Andrew’s death?”

“I knew enough,” said Jon. “He owed our company over one million dollars, which we’d advanced him to work on a new product we believed to be revolutionary.”

“That’s quite a motive,” said Paul flippantly
, and Jon jerked angrily.

“
You just shut your face you two-timing lizard! I can see you’ve returned to leech off Tia again.”

“I think,” interrupted Tia, “that someone needs to take the snowmobile and head back to Ti
mberline. If you start now Jon you’ll make it before dark.” Tia’s face remained shuddered, her stiff shoulders indicating she would accept no argument.

“So that’s your
plan
?” snapped Jon.

“After you head to Timberline we’ll think of
adding more,” stated Paul smugly, his handsome face every bit as aggressive as Jon’s.

“Well that’s just rich,” retorted Jon. “Maybe you’ll pull an Arnold Schwarzenegger stunt and break down the cabin door, trussing up the bad guys while I return with the helicopters full of law enforcement agents to wrap up the deal.
Maybe you’ll get a medal! Sound’s just great for an LA script, but what else could I expect from a LA boy?”

Paul rose, clenching his fists.
If Tia didn’t do something quick the two men would literally be at each other’s throats.

“You’re wasting your time blowing off steam,” said Tia quietly and firmly. “It’s going to be dark in a few hours and if you leave now...”

“Nope,” stated Jon stubbornly. “It’s your Paul who’s heading back to Timberline.
You
know and
I
know Tia that my sister found out something connecting Heath Enterprises to Andrew Carson’s death and was subsequently killed for it. I’m not leaving here until I discover the truth. You can either stick with me or head out on your own, but I vowed on my sister’s grave I’d find her killer and believe the answer lies within your cabin and its three uninvited occupants. Only this time I’m going to be better prepared!”

Jon turned abruptly and leaped onto the wooden landing of his t
ent. He returned with the expensive hunting rifle and a box of shells.

“You can’t stay here with that guy!
He may have killed Andrew!” Paul looked ready to explode.

“He didn’t kill him.”
Tia spoke the words softly but they managed to halt Jon’s jerky progress. “Jon hasn’t killed anybody...
yet
. He’s been duplicitous and manipulative, but is as innocent of murder as I am. And you’re right Jon, we need to find an answer to both Andrew and your sister’s deaths. I’ve hidden my head in the sand long enough; it’s time to clear my father’s name once and for all and discover what my connection is to all this. If your sister sent me something I’m going to find it. Mail is delivered to the Post Office next to the Timberline hotel. We’ll begin by putting out a trace out there.”

“Then you’ll come with me?” asked Paul hopefu
lly.

“No. I’m just going to reclaim what’s mine.
I’m taking back my cabin.”

Paul whistled, examining the
rifle in Jon’s hands and the muscles working in the photographer’s throat. He appeared about to say something but stifled whatever it was. “So is that snowmobile fueled up?” he asked, realizing neither Jon nor Tia were about to be dissuaded.