A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) (21 page)

She clambered to her feet and rested her elbows on the loft railing. What does ‘home is where the heart is’ mean? It was a common saying, but the note seemed to be saying the next clue had to be someplace in the house. That clue probably told her exactly which book too! “But where?” And was it still here, or did the burglars inadvertently nab it?

Mark followed Spencer, who carried a laptop, into the conference room. Mark closed the door and leaned against the table. “What’s going on?”

“Do you remember the day Nicole’s house was burglarized?”

“Of course.” Mark set his jaw.

Spencer opened the computer and pulled up a photo. “Do you recognize that woman?”

“Sure. She goes to my church. Her name is Sarah. What’s this have to do with Nicole?”

Spencer changed the screen and pulled up a timeline graph. “This is a progression of the burglaries.” He pointed to the date. “That’s a week-and-a-half before Nicole arrived, right?”

Mark nodded and frowned. What was Spencer getting at? He wouldn’t, no couldn’t try and pin this on Nicole—not again. There was no way she was responsible.

“I did some digging. Are you aware Nicole is unemployed?”

“Yes. She mentioned it.”

“And did you know that her friend Sarah moonlights for one of the rental agencies here in the village?”

Mark’s brows rose. That was news. “Where are you going with this?”

“Don’t you even want to know what she does?”

“I figured you’d tell me,” he said dryly. He wanted to wipe the smug grin off Spencer’s face.

“She cleans their office two nights a week.”

“Why doesn’t their housecleaning staff do that?”

“They only clean the rental properties.”

Mark rubbed his chin. If Sarah cleaned the office after hours, she’d have access to their records. “I think I see where you’re going, but you’re forgetting one major fact. Anyone can find out if a house is available to rent simply by checking online. In essence, they can tell if a house is occupied at any given time based on that information.”

“True, but here’s the interesting part. Nicole’s place has a block on it for the entire summer. Didn’t you say she came here on the spur of the moment?”

His stomach knotted. “Yes, that’s what she told me.” Could she have been faking being upset about the break in to fool them? He shook off the thought. He read people well, and Nicole was definitely the victim, not the perpetrator. Besides Grams probably anticipated she’d die before summer and reserved the house in Nicole’s name knowing she’d honor her wishes and play along. Spencer was off base once again.

“I think I’m on to something.” He frowned. “But two things bug me about my theory. Nicole has a squeaky clean record, and unless she’s the best con artist around, it’s difficult to imagine her capable of this.”

“Exactly. You’re wasting time and looking at the wrong person.” Mark shook his head. How could Spencer veer so far off track? Surely he had to know Nicole had nothing to do with the break-ins. “Just because Sarah works after hours at the property management company does not make her guilty, and it absolutely doesn’t implicate Nicole.”

“Sarah has a record—DUI and shoplifting.” Spencer clicked a button then scrolled down. “He pulled up a different picture. “Do these women look familiar?”

Mark leaned forward and nodded. He’d never forget the piranhas. “How do you connect them to Nicole?”

“She’s friends with Sarah who is friends with these women.”

Mark ran a hand through his hair. “No matter what Sarah’s past is, Nicole is innocent. Let me talk to her and see what I can find out.”

“No way. If she’s in on this, she would tip off Sarah and her friends. That could explain why nothing happened the night we were at her place—she tipped them off.”

“Ridiculous! And if Nicole is
innocent
, which she is, she can help us.”

Spencer looked past his shoulder and seemed to be giving his opinion some thought. “If you’re wrong—”

“I’m not.” He knew Nicole and thought he had a good handle on Sarah, but her record took him by surprise. He’d seen her at church, talked with her on the phone a time or two regarding Connor. Nicole liked her, but he was also smart enough to realize people lived double lives. What if Sarah was putting on a show? It looked like he had a bit of detective work to do. He only hoped Nicole wouldn’t get hurt in the process.

Nicole applied a coat of berry colored lipstick and pressed her lips together. The dress Grams gave her fit perfectly. She slipped into the strappy sandals then grabbed her clutch. Mark would be here any minute to make good on his promise of a night on the town.

A knock on the door drew her. She pulled it open. “Hi, Mark.”

“You look gorgeous.” His eyes roved from her face to her heels then back up.

Her cheeks warmed, and she suspected they matched the color of her lipstick. “Thanks. You look nice too.” His black trousers topped off with a white shirt, and a black and silver tie, enhanced his physique and reminded her of a G-man.

He flashed a smile and offered his arm. “I made reservations at Anthony’s Restaurant in the Old Mill District.”

“I’ve heard they have great seafood.” She closed and locked the door behind them.

Mark ambled beside her toward the car. “How’ve you been?”

“Great. The remodel is finished, and the master suite is so luxurious!” She almost offered to show it to him later but quickly realized how that would sound. She cleared her throat. “Plus, I found a missing part of a clue from Grams that I’m trying to figure out, and the reading selection at the house is amazing. I think I’ve read three books since I last saw you. And best of all, I got a job! I had the interview this afternoon and was hired on the spot.”

A grin lit his face. “I knew you would. I guess this is a celebration dinner.”

“Call it whatever you want, but let’s go. I’m starved.”

“I like a woman who speaks her mind.” He opened the door. “After you.”

“I’ve been so keyed up since getting the job, I could barely function. You’re the first person I’ve told.” She slid into the passenger seat.

He jogged around to the driver’s seat then got in. “Sarah doesn’t even know?”

“Nope. Although I should call her soon. I haven’t seen her since last week.”

“I guess that means you’re not getting in any tennis with Sarah.” He shot her a teasing grin.

“Not since the evening we had dinner together.”

Mark’s brow furrowed.

“Something wrong?”

“What? No.” He frowned and shook his head. “Why do you ask?” He had both hands on the wheel as they zoomed up the entrance onto US 97.

“No reason. You seemed bothered for a moment.”

Mark flashed a grin. “Nope. How well do you know Sarah?”

“Not very since our friendship is new.” She tilted her head. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” He kept his eyes on the road.

Nicole pressed her lips together. She’d spent enough time with the man to be able to read him a little, and he wasn’t telling her something. Why would he want to know about Sarah? Oh well, she wouldn’t allow it to ruin their date. “I’ve been looking forward to our dinner.”

He flashed a grin in her direction. “Me too. Tell me about the clue you’ve been trying to figure out.”

“It was a note that said, home is where the heart is.”

“Hmm. Makes me think the clue is at your place. Have you searched your house?”

“Everywhere I can think to look.”

“You must be missing something. Then again, maybe we’re being too literal.”

“What else could it mean?” Nicole didn’t want to think about the game right now. She’d spent so much effort trying to figure out her grandma’s clue, she needed a break, but Mark seemed to really enjoy the challenge, so she’d let him try to figure it out. Maybe he’d even succeed where she’d failed.

“Heart and home could be symbolic.”

“Of what?” She turned toward him and almost laughed at the look of concentration on his face. He was getting into the hunt.

“I’m not sure. But when I figure it out. I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I think your grandma’s scavenger hunt has been a success. Wasn’t the point for you to relax and have fun? It seems to me she accomplished that and more.”

Could it really be that simple? Her shoulders sagged. She’d expected some kind of hoo-raw. Maybe Mark was right and Grams only wanted to ensure she learned how to relax again.

No, that couldn’t be it. There was at least one clue she was missing. Grams never did anything without a good reason, and she would see it through to the end. With renewed determination, she set her jaw. If it was the last thing she did she’d solve Grams’ puzzle.

Mark took an exit off the business loop and turned left toward the Old Mill District shops. “I can’t wait to eat. I’m starved too. Riding a bike all day has increased my appetite.”

“I’d imagine so.” Nicole studied Mark’s profile. He gripped the steering wheel hard. Was he nervous about their date, or was it something else? Maybe Grams’ game was driving him nuts too.

Mark wracked his brain. How could he steer the conversation back to Sarah without giving anything away? Maybe he ought to get out of the detective business if he couldn’t manipulate a simple conversation. It certainly wasn’t the first time that thought had crossed his mind.

He parked. “I’ll get your door.” He strode around to the passenger side and opened the door with a flourish.

Nicole stepped out with a wide grin. “So chivalrous. Thanks.”

He closed it and wrapped his hand around hers. “My mom insisted on raising me to be a gentleman.” He shrugged. “What can I say? It stuck.”

“For the most part,” Nicole teased.

He opened the door to Anthony’s and allowed her to enter ahead of him. They were seated immediately at a table overlooking the Deschutes River. Inner tubers floated by on the lazy current, enjoying the last couple of hours of sunshine for the day. He turned his attention back to Nicole. “How was your Fourth of July? Did you spend it with Sarah?”

Nicole looked up from the menu. “No. She was with Tina and Marge. I met them at the pool once. They are not my kind of people, so I spent the day reading.”

He leaned toward her a little. “I’m sorry to hear that. I wish I’d been free, we could’ve barbequed. You must not care for Sarah’s friends to spend the day alone. What don’t you like about them?”