A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) (11 page)

He enjoyed lifting weights, and his strength had come in handy more than once on the job, but it bothered him that she’d been afraid of him. He cleared his throat. “Okay. I’m glad it was only at first. I’ll pick you up at six for dinner tomorrow.” He glanced past her shoulder toward the kitchen. “You want help washing the dishes?”

“No thanks. I’m an obsessive-compulsive cleaner.”

He lifted a hand and backed up with a grin. “No, not that.”

She walked with him to the front door.

“Don’t forget to lock up.” He tapped the door as he stepped outside. “I’ll get Sadie and be on my way.”

“See you tomorrow night.”

Mark turned toward the deck gate but stilled before retrieving his dog, listening for the sound of the lock to fall into place. A grin tipped his lips. Tomorrow night would be interesting. He got Sadie settled then put his car in gear and headed to the PD. Unless he guessed wrong, Spencer would still be around, and he wanted to check in and see if he’d found anything in those other photos.

At the station he left Sadie snoring softly on the backseat, then he found Spencer still clicking through pictures on his computer. “Figured I’d find you here. How’s it going?”

Spencer looked up with tired looking, red eyes. “Nothing. I guess now I understand why the guy questioned me when I said I’d like to see all his pictures. There must be several thousand on this file.”

“He took all of these in the past two weeks?”

Spencer nodded.

Mark rubbed his neck and returned his gaze to the screen.

“Want help?”

“Please. I could use a break. If I see one more deer or bird, I may go cross-eyed.” Spencer stood and stretched.

Mark chuckled and slid into the seat Spencer vacated. “You should go home and sleep.”

“So should you, but you’re not either. How was dinner?” A teasing lilt accompanied the question. Maybe Spencer wasn’t
that
tired.

“Great.” He rested his hand on the mouse and clicked through to the next picture before glancing at Spencer.

Spencer waggled his brow. “Sounds like you did more than put her mind at ease.”

“Easy, man. I don’t like your insinuation.”

Spencer’s neck reddened, and the grin slid from his face. “Sorry. So what’d you eat?”

“What’s with all the questions? You hungry or something?”

“Yeah. Think I’ll go grab a bite. Be back in thirty.”

Mark waved him off and clicked through the photos until one caught his eye. In the background, a white van sat in front of a house. He enlarged the photo to see the address on the house and cross-referenced it with the houses that had been hit. “Bingo.” But like before, the license plate wasn’t visible.

He clicked to the next picture. One of these may very well hold the key to solving this puzzle. His cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at it and answered. “Nicole, what’s up?”

“There’s a white van in the driveway across the way from my house,” she spoke quietly, but the panic in her voice rang clear.

His heart rate spiked. “Stay inside and double check the locks. I’m on my way.”

Chapter Ten

Mark phoned Spencer and met him in the parking lot.

“Get in, I’ll drive.” Spencer flipped on his light bar and tore from the lot. “You think it’s our guys?”

“No idea, but it’s a white van, and Nicole said no one has been around.” He’d practically promised Nicole she was safe and now this. It didn’t make sense that they’d go back to the same neighborhood after nearly being caught at Nicole’s house. What was up with these guys? Clearly they weren’t easily deterred.
Please keep Nicole safe, Lord.
They had to stop these guys before someone got hurt.

Spencer accelerated.

“Take it easy. If we crash on the way, it won’t help anything.”

Spencer eased off the gas as he rounded the next circle, then accelerated into the straightaway. A minute later they pulled into the cul-de-sac and slid to a stop behind the van, leaving the lights on.

A man stepped out of the house, his eyes widened when he spotted the police cruiser. “What’s going on?”

“Do you have I.D.?” Spencer asked.

“In my wallet. It’s in my back pocket.”

Mark poised his hand by his side ready to draw his weapon if necessary. He may not be in uniform, but he still carried a sidearm.

“I rented the house for seven days. Is there a problem?” He handed his driver’s license to Spencer.

“Be right back.” Spencer strode to his cruiser and called in the information—standard procedure required they run a check on the truck and the driver.

“Where are you from?” Mark kept an eye on the man and the door that stood open.

“Albany. My wife and I like to get over here at least once a year.”

“Is your wife inside?”

“Yes. She’s unpacking. We got a late start and arrived a short time ago.” He shot a look toward Spencer then returned his attention to Mark. “What’s going on? Is there a criminal on the loose or something?”

Spencer sidled up to them. “Sorry to bother you Mr. Clint. Someone called in a suspicious vehicle.”

“Oh, okay. No problem.” Relief covered his face. “So there’s no dangerous criminal in the area?”

“Everything is fine. Enjoy your stay,” Spencer said.

Mark followed Spencer and slid in the cruiser beside him. “Well?”

“The owner of the rental agency was not happy to have been awakened from a sound sleep, but he was cooperative. Mr. Clint and his wife are registered guests. Apparently he and his wife rent this house every year this exact same week.” Spencer pulled out.

Mark pressed in Nicole’s number. “You can rest easy. He’s a tourist, nothing more.”

“Oh good. I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. You did the right thing.”

“Okay. Thanks. See you tomorrow.”

Mark pocketed his phone. It’d been a long day, and he was ready for it to end. Tomorrow he’d look at this case with fresh eyes. They had to be missing something.

The station buzzed with early morning activity as officers changed shifts. Mark sidled up to Spencer’s desk. “Anything new?”

“Maybe. I need you to work tonight.”

“Why me?” He crossed his arms. Surely another cop was available. He kept his voice low. “Spencer, you’re killing me. You know I have a date.”

Spencer shrugged. “Sorry, but you’re by far the most experienced investigator we have, and these break-ins have to stop. The Home Owners Association is demanding answers that I don’t have, and I’m sick of fielding calls. Besides that, it’s infuriating that we haven’t caught these guys yet.”

“I understand, but can’t it wait a couple hours? It’s not like this is life or death.”

Spencer looked around the room and motioned him into a nearby conference room then closed the door. “Look, I don’t know who the players are in this, but since it all began before you got here, I know I can trust you.”

“Are you suggesting cops are involved?”

Spencer shrugged.

He kept his voice low. “Do you have a credible reason to believe a cop is involved?” He hadn’t been in Sunriver long and really only knew Spencer well.

“No, but the fewer people who know, the less chance that someone will accidentally reveal information they shouldn’t.”

“Okay. I’m listening.” Mark leaned against the conference room table and wished the Sheriff’s department had this case, rather than their tiny police force.

“I received a tip that needs follow-up. I don’t know what I’m stepping into and need backup.”

This changed things. Mark couldn’t turn his back on a fellow officer. “That’s all you had to say. Fill me in.”

“There’s supposed to be another break-in tonight.” He shared the address.

Mark’s gut clenched. “That’s on Nicole’s street. What is it about that cul-de-sac?” He’d assured her she was safe and now this.

Spencer nodded. “Makes you wonder huh? So far all the break-ins have been spread out randomly all over the resort.”

Mark reached for his cell. “I have to warn her.”

Spencer grabbed his wrist. “You can’t. She needs to act as if nothing is going on. We don’t want to tip them off.”

“Well, she’s going to know something is up because I have to cancel our date. What exactly do you suggest I do?”

Spencer frowned then snapped his fingers. “We will use her place as cover.”

“What? No way! She’s freaked out enough over what’s happened.” Spencer was crazy if he thought he was going to involve Nicole.

“Considering she’s already been a victim of these guys, I’d think she’d want to help. If they’ve been casing the place, they’ll already know that you’ve been by and the two of you socialize.”

“I suppose.”

“Then seeing your car there again won’t raise any alarm.” The gleam in Spencer’s eyes almost had him agreeing to the dangerous proposal—almost. “I won’t put Nicole in harm’s way.”

“I have a plan.” Spencer rubbed his chin. “But in order for it to work we’ll have to let Nicole in on it.”

Mark sat on the edge of the table. “This I gotta hear.” One minute, Spencer refused to let Nicole know what was going on, then the next he wanted to involve her. He liked the guy, but at the moment he questioned the man’s judgment.

Spencer started talking in a hushed voice. A slow, easy smile spread across Mark’s face. “I’m glad
you’re
wearing the wig and not me.” He looked Spencer over from head to toe. “I guess you could pull off a black dress and fancy shoes, but you better hit the stores if you’re going to find something in your size by tonight.”

Spencer jerked his head back. “I’m not going in drag!”

“Sorry, buddy. You want to impersonate Nicole, and that’s what she’s wearing on our date tonight.” He looked his new friend over once more and chuckled. “You could bring a female officer in on this and avoid having to shop.”

Spencer turned several shades of red and stomped from the room.

Mark chuckled until he remembered he needed to fill in Nicole. He prayed she’d be willing to go along with the plan.

Nicole sat on the bed in her master bedroom listening to Mona the lead designer and her assistant Bailey discuss what needed to be done. She studied the two women. Mona, by far the older of the duo had an air of sophistication about her, but she was the consummate professional. Bailey, the polar opposite, was down to earth and reserved.

She couldn’t help admire Bailey’s long dark hair. Although a little frizzy, with the right treatment, the woman’s hair would be like silk. Bailey took several pictures of her bedroom, then took out a tape and measured the windows and the floor space. “Do you have a color scheme in mind, Nicole?”

Nicole drew a blank. “I don’t have a clue. I know it should feel peaceful and the bath should be spa-like, but beyond that I’m clueless.”

Mona frowned. “How about colors you’d like to stay away from?”

“I’d say anything bold. I love white and soft grays, greens and blues.”

“Good. That gives us something to work with,” Mona said. “Regarding the furniture. What is your style?”