A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) (3 page)

“Trust me, they don’t get up before eleven, and my cousin sleeps late too. They’re all on vacation. I, on the other hand, am not. I took the day off to spend with them, but it’s back to work for me tomorrow. I’ll be at the café in the lodge by seven. Is that too early for you?”

“Not at all. I’m a morning person.”

“Good. I’ll see you then.” Sarah turned and rejoined her friends, who had sauntered back to sun themselves on the lounge chairs.

Nicole had had more than enough heat and gathered her stuff. She needed to figure out what this key went to.

Chapter Three

Mark eased into the hammock with a groan and closed his eyes. He draped his arm over the side and ran his hand along Sadie’s back. He’d recently adopted the Golden Retriever and didn’t have one regret. Talk about a good dog.

He shifted and stifled a groan. Every muscle in his body ached. No one warned him to take it easy his first day, but they sure had a good laugh at his expense when he could barely walk after getting off the bike.

Sadie sat up and growled.

“What is it, girl?” Footsteps on the deck had Mark twisting to see who was approaching. The hammock tilted to one side and dumped him to the ground as Sadie darted out of the way.

She barked at Spencer, one of his new co-workers.

“It’s okay, girl.” Mark scrambled to standing, and every muscle in his backside screamed at him. The blasted hammock needed adjusting so that wouldn’t happen again.

Sadie quieted and sat, never taking her gaze off the other officer.

Spencer chuckled as he folded his six-foot frame into one of the plastic Adirondack chairs. “Nice dog.”

“Thanks. What brings you by?”

“Wanted to see how your day went. I had your job my rookie year, and that first week was murder.”

Mark winced at Spencer’s choice of words, as he eased into the other Adirondack chair. Murder—he shook off the all too fresh memory, and focused on the man across from him. “Today was quiet. You have any action?”

“I responded to a burglary and a fender bender.”

“A burglary?” His gut tightened. Sunriver was supposed to be quiet.

“Yeah. There’ve been a string of them this past week.”

Mark frowned. It seemed crime wove its tentacles everywhere. “Any leads?”

“Only that all the houses hit are part of the same rental pool.”

“Inside job?”

Spencer shrugged. “Could be. There’s nothing pointing to that, but we’re still investigating.”

“Let me know if I can help.” Mark almost revealed he’d been a detective in Portland, but stopped himself in time. That would create too many questions since he was working well beneath his rank and abilities this summer.

“Thanks, but I don’t think a rookie will be much help. No offense.”

Mark’s pulse quickened at the jab—he had at least five years of experience on the man. He shook off the comment. The chief agreed to keep his experience quiet, but the slight rankled just the same. “No offense taken, but the offer stands if you need a fresh perspective.”

Spencer nodded and stood. “You work tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Hopefully he’d be able to straddle the seat.

“See you then.” Spencer hopped off the deck and sauntered across the dirt to the driveway.

Mark frowned. He’d wanted a light workload with limited threat potential, but if his investigative skills were needed maybe he should offer his services to the chief. Then again, he’d been ordered by his boss to relax this summer. That might prove to be easier said than done if someone was burglarizing rental units. He’d need to be extra vigilant to look for suspicious behavior while he was patrolling.

Frightened screams from the direction of the bike trail behind his rental had him leaping to his feet despite his protesting muscles. Adrenaline pumping, he jumped off the deck. Sadie scrambled after him then ran beside him as he sprinted across the dirt, littered with grasses and lava rocks. He headed toward the trail keeping watch for threats as he charged across the dry landscape. Water balloon remains littered the bike path. He looked around but didn’t spot anyone. A balloon splashed at his feet, then another exploded against his gut. He sprinted in the direction the balloon had come.

A boy ran from behind a boulder. He looked to be about five feet tall, with brown hair a little too long to be considered clean cut. He wore jeans and a gray T-shirt.

“Sadie, stay!” Mark sprinted, then reached out and grabbed the back of the kid’s shirt. “Hold up.”

“Let me go! I didn’t hurt anyone.” The kid thrashed, trying to pull away.

He gripped the boy’s shoulder. “Cool it! I’m not going to hurt you. I only want to talk.”

The boy stilled. “What do you want?” He eyed Mark with distrust.

“What’s your name?”

“Connor.”

He raised a brow at the familiar name. The boy looked around the right age. “I’m Mark. You don’t happen to have a cousin named Sarah do you?”

Recognition shown in the boy’s suspicious eyes. “You know Sarah?”

“We’ve met. I guess she was right about you.” He released his hold on the delinquent, convinced he’d piqued the kid’s curiosity enough he wouldn’t bolt.

Connor crossed his arms. “What’d she say?”

“That you’re a handful.”

Pain dulled the eyes that suddenly dropped to study the ground. “I keep doing things that bug her. She’s not used to having a kid around, and she is so boring.” He rolled his eyes. “Plus her friends are awful! I can’t stand them. They drink and talk all night long.” He shrugged. “So I came out here to find something to do.” He pointed toward the bike path. “Is that your dog?”

“Yes.” He patted his thigh. “Sadie, come.”

Sadie charged at them and bounded to a stop.

“She’s friendly. You don’t have to be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid.” He reached out a hand to Sadie and let her sniff it. “You’re a pretty girl.” He glanced up at Mark. “How old is she?”

“Three. You can pet her.” He couldn’t stop thinking about the boy’s words regarding the women at his house. “You mentioned your cousin’s friends drink too much. They don’t hurt you, do they?” Mark’s dad had been a mean drunk, and he had a short fuse for people who abused kids.

“No. They leave me alone. My cousin doesn’t drink, and I can tell her friends’ drinking bugs her, but she still lets them crash at her house.” He shrugged. “Whatever. I guess she can’t say no to family and friends. She doesn’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings. At least that’s what my mom said about Sarah when she suggested I visit my cousin for the summer.”

Mark hurt for this kid. He knew firsthand what it felt like to be unwanted and treated like a burden. “Did you want to come to Sunriver?”

Connor toed a rock. “I guess. I can fish, swim, float in the river, ride my bike and—”

“Scare tourists with water balloons?” Mark raised a brow.

The grin was all mischievous boy. “Yeah, that too. You’re not going to tell Sarah, are you?” His voice cracked.

“Shouldn’t I?”

“What if I promise to not throw water balloons for the rest of the summer?”

“You think you can keep your word?”

Connor nodded, sincerity in every bob. “Positive. My last one hit your stomach.” A smirk stole across his face.

Mark rubbed his chin. “I suppose your cousin doesn’t need to know about the water balloons. This could stay our little secret. But Connor,” he waited until the boy looked up at him, “I’m a cop, and I don’t want to see you get into any more trouble. Am I clear?”

Surprise and a hint of admiration covered the kid’s face. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now head on home before your cousin starts to worry about you.”

Connor kicked a pebble with his sneaker. “Can I hang here with you? My cousin’s friends are probably getting tipsy about now.”

Mark sucked in a breath, and let it out slowly. This boy must really hate it at his cousin’s if he’d ask to hang out with a stranger who happened to be a cop. He felt bad for him. He stared hard at the kid. If it hadn’t been for Sam stepping up and getting involved in his life as a kid, he wouldn’t be the person he was today. In fact, he’d probably be behind bars. Maybe Connor was his chance to pay it forward. “Sure, but you need to let Sarah know where you are. Is her place far from here?”

Connor grinned wide. “Two or three miles maybe. My bike is stashed over there.” He pointed in the direction he’d been running when Mark caught him. “It’s only fifteen minutes away from here when I ride.”

“Okay then, grab it, and let’s call Sarah.” Sadie bounded ahead of them.

Connor walked his bike to Mark’s house and rested it against the deck.

“Do you have a cell phone?”

The kid nodded and pulled a smart phone from his pocket and entered her number. “Hey Sarah, I’m at a cop’s house.”

“What!”

Mark could hear Sarah’s panicked voice through the phone. He reached out a hand. “Let me talk with her.”

Connor passed the phone to him.

“Hi, Sarah, we met earlier on the bike trail when you and your friends took a spill.”

“Oh yeah. Sure. I remember. Why’s Connor at your place?” Concern edged her voice.

He quickly explained, leaving out the water balloons. “Do you mind if he hangs out here for a couple hours?” He looked over his shoulder toward the boy who was swinging on the hammock and lowered his voice. “He sounds a little uncomfortable with your friends.”

“Oh. Okay, sure. But, so you know, my friends leave Connor alone.” Defensiveness edged her tone.

He’d believed the boy for the most part, but her confirmation made him feel better. “Connor said the same thing. I think he needs some guy time.” Tension eased from his shoulders. His gut said these two were on the up and up, but he’d keep a close watch on the boy, to make sure. He’d been fooled before and didn’t care for a repeat.

“That makes sense. Thanks for this. I can come by and get him at eight if that’s okay.”

“I’ll make sure he gets home safely.” He wanted to see for himself what Connor was going home to.

“Okay. See you in a couple then.”

“Uh, one more thing. Please don’t let your friends know I’m the one bringing him home.” Even though he thought he could believe Sarah and her cousin, he wanted to see for himself that things there were okay. He didn’t want the women to change their behavior because he was a cop.

She laughed. “No worries. Mum’s the word. Thanks again.”

Mark strode across the deck and handed the phone to Connor. He didn’t care to see those women again, but his concern for the boy overrode any apprehension he felt. Best-case scenario they’d be in another room and wouldn’t notice him when he brought Connor home.

“You don’t like her friends either, huh?”

The kid was perceptive, but he wasn’t going there with him. “You know what I don’t like?”

Connor shook his head.

“Being hungry. Have you eaten?”

Sadie barked and sat facing him. Mark laughed. “You’ve eaten, girl.”

Connor squatted beside Sadie. “I haven’t, and I’m starving.”

“How about burgers? I keep frozen patties in the freezer.”

“Sounds good.” Connor sat on the deck playing a game on his phone. Sadie curled in front of the hammock where Connor lounged.

Mark got busy preparing a bachelor meal for them and allowed his thoughts to drift through his day. Had he seen anything or anyone that might have been involved in the burglary? He’d met many people today, but the person that stuck out in his mind was the blonde. He shook his head. Nothing about her spoke trouble, except maybe the vehicular kind. He chuckled. She’d sure been irritated with him. She’d tried to hide it, but he could tell the woman was riled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, just letting my mind wander. How’s your game?”

“Okay. I used to play it all the time with my dad.”

“Used to?”

“Yeah. He took off about a year ago, and we haven’t seen him since.”

“I’m sorry. Is that why you wanted to spend the summer here?”

The boy shrugged. “I think he left because of me.”

Mark picked up the plate holding the burger patties and turned toward Connor. “I’m a pretty good judge of character. Even though I haven’t known you long I can tell you’re a great kid—a little mischievous. But I’d stake my reputation on this—you didn’t drive your dad away.”

“Thanks, but you don’t know him. He never had time for me when he was around, and he always yelled at me.” He shrugged. “I thought maybe if I wasn’t home, he might come back. You know? My mom goes between being angry and sad. I want her to be happy again.”

An ache penetrated Mark’s heart. “It’s obvious you care a lot about your mom and that you are trying hard to be a good son, Connor. Sometimes adults have problems, and even though it feels like it’s your fault your dad left, it’s not. That’s on him, not you.”

Connor looked at him with doubt-filled eyes. “You sure?”

“As sure as I am that my stomach is going to grumble if I don’t eat soon.”