A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) (35 page)

"Calm yourself, Hunter. Do you think I really ever want to be in debt to you? I'm not doing this for me. I'm trying to help save my niece. She deserves a chance, too."

Continuing to glare at Vince, Hunter sat down again, still livid. "Tell me something. It's obvious you don't love Becca. I know what you do for a living, and I know when you were brought into her life as more than the family friend. The question is, why? What's in it for you? Why would you go along with her grandparents plan to marry her if you don't love her that way?"

Caught him. Vince blanched and gave him a deer in the headlights look. Then it faded. "To keep her away from you."

"Why does it matter to you?" Duh, he already knew they wanted to keep them apart. There had to be a deeper reason.

Vince's eyes darkened with fury. "Call it personal. Your dearly departed father and his hot shot partner were the lawyers in a case against my father. It's also when Rusty met Anne."

Now they were getting somewhere.

*****

Hunter wasn't answering his phone.

She's not dead.

Becca covered her mouth with her hand and checked for the tenth time since the cop left to make sure the door was locked.

Not dead, not dead.

The words wouldn't stop ringing repeatedly in her head.

Okay. She had to keep calm. There'd been nothing too far out of the ordinary for a while. She was just on edge because of the news, and because Hunter wasn't home.

She'd be fine.

The doorbell rang. The whole being fine went out the window when she screamed. Yup, she was over the edge.

"Becca? Are you okay in there?" It was Shara's voice.

It was just Shara at the door.

Becca let out a laugh in relief, then pulled the door open. "You scared me!"

"I just came by to see if you wanted to grab dinner and if you'd heard from Hunter in a while. I didn't mean to scare you." Shara stepped inside. "You look totally terrified. What's going on?"

Once Shara was in, Becca closed and locked the door, then leaned against it. "I just had a visit from the police. Sylvia isn't dead. I identified the wrong body."

"Geez, no wonder you're nervous! Does Hunter know?"

"He's not answering his phone. The man he went to visit is in the hospital. Possible heart attack, so at least I know why he may not be answering. It just makes me nervous."

"More reason for you to come with me. You don't need to be alone right now."

"Shara, I'll be fine," Becca insisted. Yeah right. Even she knew that was a lie. She had a bad case of the nervous jitters already. "I just ate dinner anyway."

"You're just as stubborn as Hunter. Fine, how about you keep me company? My sister is dating this new guy and I kinda feel like the oddball as they sit there in plain sight and make out. At least you and Hunter pay attention to other people when you're together."

A blush crept up in her cheeks. She wasn't even sure why. "Let me grab my purse and I'll be ready."

Shara followed her making conversation. "I heard you were talking to Sylvia's mother?"

"Yeah, through emails. It's weird. I guess I don't have to tell her I identified her daughter's body." A series of shudders rippled through her, the memory of that night clear in her mind and the thought of it being for nothing.

"Ick, Becca." Shara's lips twisted in a sickened frown. Just the way Becca felt about the whole thing.

"My thoughts exactly." She grabbed her purse, picked up her phone charger in case she needed it and tossed it inside, then slung it over her shoulder. "I'm ready. I could use the distraction. I can't get disturbing images out of my head."

"And here I thought I was bad off when I couldn't get images of my sister making out with her boy toy out of my head. They were like this." Shara made a hilarious imitation of a woman sucking face, then moved to imitate what the guy looked like. She stuck her tongue out in front of her hand and without actually licking it, pretended to tongue kiss her hand. "It's like they were totally dry humping, on my couch of course. Ugh. They could seriously try out for an X rated movie."

Becca forced a laugh. "If you're trying to take my mind off things, it's working. If we ever play a game of Charades, I want you on my team."

Shara laughed right along with her. "We'd totally kick Hunter's ass at Charades."

She checked the house and the door about five times before she was satisfied to leave. Becca tried to act calm but she wanted to hear from Hunter soon.

It wasn't until halfway through dinner that her phone rang. "It's Hunter, finally!" Becca gestured. "Do you mind if I answer it?"

"Why would I mind? Crazy girl! Pick up!" Shara waved her hands at the phone for emphasis.

She did. "Hey, how is everything going?" Did she sound calm? Her fast beating heart and tense muscles told her she wasn't, but as long as she sounded okay enough, she'd take it.

"The same. Joe's in surgery and I haven't heard anything new yet." Hunter's voice echoed. Where in the world was he?

"Are you going to stay another night?" She'd understand if he did, though she wished she had him home tonight.

"I think so. I'm exhausted and not sure I'm up for a flight home, even if it's just an hour. I'm sorry, angel."

"Don't be sorry. I miss you and wish you were here, but I know you need this." Becca closed her eyes, really not liking the idea of being home alone tonight. "Hunter, I know this is the wrong time to bring it up, but..." Maybe she should have waited. Did telling him now or later make the slightest difference?

"What's wrong? Tell me, Becca."

"I-I just heard from the police. Sylvia isn't dead. It was the wrong b-body." She avoided Shara's gaze.

"What?" He let out a string of curses. "That means she's still alive and out there? Bec, I'll come home right now."

"No! I'll be okay. I'm not going to let myself get that paranoid again. I can't. I was doing so well. You stay there, get some rest and just come back tomorrow. She hasn't shown herself in months. I doubt she will tonight of all nights."

But she feared it, no doubt.

"Are you sure? I don't like being apart from you as it is."

"A night won't make a difference. I'm with Shara right now. Once I'm home, I'll let you know."

"Okay. I promise, I'll come home tomorrow. No matter what. I won't drag this out. I'll talk to Joe once he's better. I just need to know he's going to be okay."

"I know, Hunter. Do me a favor and rest up."

"I will. Call me tonight and we'll talk until we fall asleep, okay? I'm going to call Beverly and say good night to Sienna."

"Are you sure? You won't be asleep before then?"

Bec, if I can't fall asleep next to you, I still want to fall asleep with you. If this is the only way until then, so be it."

She loved his persistence. "All right. I'll call you in a few hours."

They hung up after a while. Becca caught Shara's smirk as she slipped her phone in her purse.

"What?"

"You two. You can't begin to know how glad I am that Hunter found someone who loves him the way you do. I've known him half my life and even with everything going on, he's happier with you than I've ever seen him." Shara kept shifting her eyes to the left, looking behind Becca at something. "Some guy is watching us. Don't look!"

The hair on the back of Becca's neck stood at attention, but she made light of it instead of getting panicked. "Maybe he thinks you're hot," she teased. Play it cool. But she wanted to get out of here all of a sudden. Even without the news of Sylvia still being alive, the idea of someone watching them rattled her.

"Maybe." Shara chuckled before turning serious again. "But his attention really picked up when you were on the phone. He's trying not to be obvious about it, and he's by himself."

"All right, you're making me nervous," Becca whispered, as if it did any good.

"Sorry. It's just that he's making me nervous." Shara fiddled with her silverware. "You want someone to stay with you tonight? It's not like my sister will notice I'm there anyway."

On alert, Becca sat up. Did Shara have an odd feeling too? "Yeah," She replied, liking the idea. "I could use the company tonight."

"Okay, he just got up and left. Let's wait a while, then go." Shara kept her eye on the door.

On the way home, Becca kept thinking that Hunter couldn't get back fast enough.

*****

Hunter thought about what Vince told him today. So there was another connection. The bastard really only looked out for himself. He'd never cared about Becca, not the way a man should love someone he wanted to marry. Whatever. Either way, that man had some gall! Still, he didn't mention it to Becca when she called tonight. He should have, but he'd just tell her later.

"Are you going to be okay tonight?" he asked her, settling in under the covers. The news of Sylvia still being out there didn't make this trip any easier. He was so far from Becca and they were both concerned about so much.

"I'll have to be. Shara's staying tonight, so I'm not alone."

Thank you, Shara.
He wished he was there, holding Becca close to him. "We'll get a good security system. I'll have one installed as soon as I get home." After all this time, he still wasn't sure Sylvia would come back and try anything, but then again, if she resurfaced every few years ... Hunter wasn't about to take chances. She might try to catch them when they weren't on their guard any more. For Becca's sake and his own, they'd always have to be on their guard. Just enough to be aware that anything could happen.

It wasn't something he looked forward to living with. The doubts in the back of their mind that any day, any time, she could appear and finish whatever plan she'd come up with? Someone with vengeance on their mind would find a way, he already knew that. And the more they uncovered recently, the more Hunter knew Sylvia had it out for Becca. In her eyes, Becca was the reason Rusty Lange stopped keeping in contact, and the psychopath obviously had a hard time letting go of Rusty when he disappeared. Apparently that lasted over twenty years.

Sick! The whole thing was outright sick!

"Let's not talk about this tonight," Becca requested. "I want to fall asleep with good thoughts in my head. Tell me about some of the videos you watched today. I bet you were the cutest kid ever!"

He laughed, pulling the spare pillow to him again. "Nah, that one's saved for Sienna. You'd love the videos though. I saw one of my first birthday. Imagine one year old Hunter clad in a diaper with cake all over my face."

"You know when we get these videos we're having a Hunter home video marathon," she warned him. The warmth in her voice ran over his skin in waves.

Oh he had no doubt. "Whatever pleases the lady, I shall deliver," he said in a terribly accented voice.

Becca laughed, then she got quiet for a while. "Hey Hunter? Thank you for everything."

"What are you talking about? You don't have to thank me."

"You stood by me even with my darker side this summer."

He shifted positions, turning off the bedside lamp. Darkness surrounded him. "If that's your dark side, I wish all people had your dark side. It was just a rough patch, Bec. Nothing more."

"It's just been so easy for people to cast me aside." Sadness resonated in her tone.

"Hey. Listen to me. Your grandparents and the way they've always acted toward you shouldn't set the mode for how other people are. I'd do anything for you, and you know this. I know it seems everyone has a hidden agenda, but I'm here with you always. Get those thoughts out of your head, angel. Where is this coming from?"

"A mix of things, I guess. All the lies. Then there's a girl at the center whose parents are already giving up. It's such a reminder of what happened to me. I'm tired. I miss you. I'm a little more emotional tonight."

"I'm sorry." Hurt squeezed his chest. "I'd never cast you aside, Bec."

"I know. That's why I'm thanking you. You're one of the few who has seen all sides of me and is still here."

"If anyone should be thanking anyone, it's me thanking you. You always save me when I'm not sure I can save myself."

*****

"She can't be saved."

The words anyone hated to hear. Vince and his family surrounded Dr. Velez as the test results were discussed. Hunter didn't know who said the words, but they were loud and clear. She couldn't be saved. Vince's niece was too far gone.

Exactly what he feared.

Hunter shot to his feet from his chair and left the room, not ready for the next steps. Vince glared at him as he passed by. His chest tightened and he couldn't breathe. Hunter's footsteps echoed in the hallways as he ran, really unsure of where he was going. He stopped by the room Vince's niece was in and decided to peek in on her.

He opened the door quietly and stepped inside, approaching her bed.

It wasn't Vince's niece he saw lying in that bed.

It was Becca.

"No! Becca! You're okay! You're safe!" Hunter shouted, taking her arm and shaking it. "Angel! What happened to you? This can't be real. It's not Becca! Nooooo!" His cries bounced off the walls in the room, surrounding him in his own heartbreaking plea. He climbed up on the bed and rested his head on her chest, the same way he'd done when Becca was a child and he'd first went to her room. "Come back to me, angel! Come back! I want to marry you! I'm not whole without you! Don't leave me, Becca! I'm going to be better! Please come back!"

He held her, breaking down.

What the hell happened? How could this be Becca?

Hunter didn't even hear the door open until there were voices and someone tapped his shoulder.

"There's nothing more to do, Hunter. You have to let go."

"How can you say that? She's everything to me! How did this happen? Becca was just fine! What went wrong?"

"I warned you not to hurt her in the process," Vince snapped from behind them.

"I didn't do anything to her!"

"You and your family caused a lot of pain for us, Hunter. It started there." Vince moved closer, his face twisted into a pissed off scowl. He stared down at Becca. "She had so much potential. She can't be saved now."