ChasingShadows (9 page)

“‘Another time’?” he mocked.

His laughing eyes blazed her insides. She loved to hear him
laugh, and the way his face lit up. If she could keep him in a good mood, life
would be awesome.

“I couldn’t resist. She’s too cute.” Juliana giggled.

“Is that why you stayed away for twelve years?”

“No!” She burst out in a fresh peal of laughter.

“Good.” The word must have slipped, because Alex’s face
sobered and he hastily turned away.

Wings of apprehension fluttered in her stomach. She knew
exactly what he meant. She couldn’t allow them to grow close again. Nor could
she forget the kiss they’d shared in the heat of the moment. The kiss indelibly
stamped on her mind next to the imprint of their first kiss from years ago. But
no future existed for them together. Her heritage saw to that.

Or was there a future? Did she dare dream? No! She couldn’t
risk putting him through a life with a crazy psychic. Couldn’t risk buckling
herself onto that rollercoaster life.

Her thoughts whirled uncontrollably, and she blurted out,
“Feels like old times, doesn’t it?” She tossed him a tenuous smile and absently
straightened her skirt as if it were mangling her insides into knots.

“It’s not.” He stared through the windshield, his face a
mask of winter’s ice.

She watched the vein pulsing on his neck, willing it to stop.
“We still need to talk about us.”

“I just want to find my niece,” he said in a tone that
matched his expression. “We can talk later.”

“I need you to understand.” She set her hand on Alex’s thigh
in a comforting gesture. The tensing of his leg sent a jolt through her arm and
she yanked her hand back.

“Why, so you can alleviate your guilt?”

“So I can concentrate on finding Lisette,” Juliana
whispered.

“Later, okay?”

She slumped back in the leather seat. “Yeah, sure.”

A reckoning was around the bend. She always knew someday
she’d bump into Alex, even in a city as large as San Jose. And she’d even
planned to contact him one day—to explain what happened.

But not this soon. Not this way.

* * * * *

The quiet half-hour drive into the foothill homes of the
valley’s elite was barely tolerable. They didn’t speak until Alex stopped
outside the tall wrought iron gate in front of the Chamber estate and punched
the intercom button. After verbal identification, the gate slid open slowly.

Alternating purple plum and crepe myrtle trees flanked each
side of the flagstone-lined driveway. The drive ended in a circle surrounding
forest-green grass. A huge gargoyle fountain sprayed and splashed in the center
of the lush lawn. The Gothic-style house sat beyond the expansive lawn and
ornamental shrubbery.

Alex parked in front of the door and they got out of the SUV
in silence. He joined her on the passenger side and they walked to the porch
together. Juliana gazed in fascination at the mansion’s medieval turrets and
taupe stone exterior. What kind of people lived in a castle in California?
She’d find out soon enough.

Alex clanged a dragonhead knocker on the black walnut door. Seconds
later, an impeccably dressed butler in a black and white suit swung the door
wide. Alex flashed his badge. The snooty butler gave them the once-over, his
dark, impenetrable eyes lingering on Juliana.

In his mid-forties, the tall, attractive man sported burnished
brown hair shot with white. His muscular build surprised Juliana—not the
typical English-style butler.

Unease slipped over her as if someone had wiped their cold,
muddy feet on her naked skin. As much as she tried to shake off the odd
sensation, it remained. She clutched her purse to her stomach and studied the
mansion’s architecture.

“Jeeves.” Alex greeted the butler, handing him a business
card.

Bremley grasped the card gingerly, as if ink still dripped
from it. The Englishman sniffed disdainfully. “The name is Bremley,
Lieutenant.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Alex said impatiently. “Here to see Mr.
and Mrs. Chamber.”

Bremley looked point-blank at Juliana, interest lighting his
dark eyes. “Who else shall I say is calling?”

“My associate, Leigh Duncan.”

Juliana flashed Bremley an engaging smile, which disarmed
the pretentious butler into flustered action. Red-faced, he knocked the mail
from the leather-topped console onto the marble floor.

Ignoring the fallen mail, he waved them into the foyer,
watching them as if they might slip priceless antiques in their pockets. He
spoke into a house phone with a modicum of distaste, “Madam, Lieutenant
Alexander MacKenzie and associate Leigh Duncan are here to speak to you. Would
you like—?” He paused and averted his gaze from Juliana. “I’ll show them in.”

“Mrs. Chamber will see you in the sitting room.” He moved
with a panther’s grace into the mansion’s interior.

Bremley guided them through double doors into a spacious
room. The beautiful room featured an eclectic style, decorated in pastel
yellows, corals and apricot. Floral paintings in watercolors and oils patterned
the walls. The room, so out of character with the medieval charm of the manor,
pleased Juliana’s senses.

A delicate scent of fresh-cut flowers offered a temporary
remedy to Juliana’s unbalanced emotional state. She wandered around the room,
touching furniture and art objects. Large windows overlooked sweeping gardens
and sunlight danced on her bare arms. The room welcomed her and harbored no
evil.

“Alex. Have you found her?” A cautious but excited voice
carried into the room.

Juliana spun on her toes and saw a beautiful, elegant woman
rush into the room.

“No.” In typical fashion, Alex crossed his arms over his
broad chest.

Despite the distinguished bearing of the petite blonde-haired
woman, her troubled face showed lines of anxiety. Fatigue settled into pockets
under her iris-blue eyes.

“Oh dear.” Mrs. Chamber sank in a desolate heap on the
overstuffed sofa in the center of the room. Tears spoiled her well-maintained
face. She waved a handkerchief at them. “I’m sorry. I simply can’t seem to
control my emotions.”

“Mrs. Chamber.” Juliana sat beside her. “There’s no need to
be sorry.”

Mrs. Chamber’s thoughts buffeted her with their severity. The
woman’s mind was an open vault. Juliana winced as the older woman’s thoughts
overwhelmed her.

“Jewell…Leigh, you okay?”

The slip of her old nickname crashed into her. She realized
he’d used the nickname yesterday also. How did she overlook it? Unease slid
over her. This case, Alex, had her as confused as a drunk on a bender.

“I’m fine,” she lied, not wanting to upset Mrs. Chamber. “That
annoying headache’s hanging on.”

Alex continued to study her, concern grooving his forehead.

Juliana held her hand out to Mrs. Chamber, who grasped it
and clung. “Leigh Duncan.”

“Heavens, where are my manners?” Her lips formed a tight
smile. “Samantha Chamber. Please, call me Samantha.”

Alex strode to the far side of the room, then pivoted around
to face them. “I have a few follow-up questions.” Samantha nodded. “Do you
remember anyone becoming friendly with Lisette?”

Samantha searched her mind and came up blank. “No one I’m
aware of, except the staff members Detective O’Malley already interviewed.”

“Who do you think would abduct her for ransom?”

Samantha’s slender fingers flew to her throat. “Has there
been a ransom demand? Grant didn’t mention it this morning.”

“Not yet.”

Dropping her hands, she seemed unsure what to do with them.
She plucked at her silk skirt, clasped and unclasped them on her lap. “As I
told Detective O’Malley, I don’t know anyone who’d do such a horrible thing to
Lisette.” Samantha folded and unfolded her handkerchief. “She’s here one
weekend a month, and we don’t leave the estate.”

Juliana blanked out the verbal questions and answers. Instead,
she concentrated on the thoughts tumbling in Samantha’s head. The woman told
the truth. Her frantic appearance was definitely genuine. She loved Lisette and
respected and admired Andrea for being a good mother.

Alex switched his interrogation direction. She didn’t have
to hear his questions, given the way Samantha’s trains of thought collided with
one another. Samantha was terrified her husband might have done something
stupid. He once threatened to keep Lisette instead of returning her after a
weekend visit. Samantha verbalized none of this.

Alex completed his questioning. Juliana pulled herself back
from the words echoing around her and quickly and efficiently rebuilt the
mental block in her mind.

“Thanks for your time. Contact me if you remember anything
helpful.” Alex patted Mrs. Chamber’s shoulder and squeezed gently.

“Of course.” She dabbed at her renewed tears. “Don’t
hesitate to call if you need
anything
from me. Anything.” Samantha
clutched Alex’s arm before dropping her hand in her lap.

Alex and Juliana left, followed at a discreet distance by
Bremley, guardian of Castle Chamber.

Once outside the closed front door, Juliana said, “That man
gives me the creeps.”

Alex halted mid-stride and turned to stare at her. His eyes
darkened, slivered. “Andrea said the same thing. Did you try to read him?”

“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes to the hazy blue-gray sky. “You
don’t want to know what he was thinking.”

Alex closed the distance between them and brushed away a
loosened tendril of hair stuck on her eyelashes. “Try me.”

Heat rose to the spot his fingers touched as they trailed
off her cheek. “He…” She paused. “He’d like to rip my clothes off and—”

Alex held up his palm and scowled. “You’re right.”

Juliana lightly rubbed her face where Alex touched it, as if
to capture his essence. “I thought we were interviewing Mr. Chamber too.” She
was eager to read his mind after hearing Samantha’s thoughts.

“He’s not here.” A muscle flicked at Alex’s jaw. “Weren’t
you listening?”

“No. Did you forget why I was here?”

A tentative smile curled his lips. “Sorry. You’ll have to
clue me in on
your
side of the conversation.”

He opened the passenger door and waited for Juliana to climb
in. But she stood her ground in an affronted stance.

“What?” His shoulders moved in a half-shrug.

“Can you exit stage left?” She gritted her teeth. “I’m
having a fashion calamity.” She again wished she’d worn something that didn’t
hike up to her butt while climbing into the towering SUV.

Eyeing her knee-skimming dress, he leaned forward and
drawled, “Need help?”

His breath fanned her ear and her heart palpitated. “I can
manage.” She sent him a withering glare that belied the havoc his nearness
created.

Alex’s triumphant laughter echoed as he strode to the
driver’s side. She hopped into the passenger seat and straightened her dress before
he even shoved a leg inside the SUV.

The engine roared to life and he headed off the estate. “Did
you pick up any visions or vibes from the room?”

“No, and Samantha Chamber was honest. She loves Lisette and
respects Andrea.” Juliana buckled her seatbelt and adjusted it from cutting
into her shoulder. “She’s glad you’re working the case and confident you’ll
find Lisette.”

“What else?” Amazement and wariness laced Alex’s voice.

Cool air circulated in the vehicle, and Juliana breathed it
in deeply. “She’s afraid her husband’s hiding something.” She glanced around
the SUV’s interior and spied a beanbag toy nestled against a gym bag on the
backseat. “He alluded to wanting to keep Lisette after a weekend visitation. She’s
afraid to ask him about it.”

“What do
you
believe?”

“It’s what she thinks, but she’s cautious.” She stretched
back and snagged the beanbag kitten. The soft black fur underneath her fingers subdued
her ragged thoughts. “Apparently he’s secretive about everything.”

“What a guy, huh?” Alex tossed her a grim smile. “Anything
else?”

“I wish.” Juliana plucked at her dress, smoothing it over
her thighs. “Is this Lisette’s?” She held the toy at dash level.

Alex glanced at the tiny black cat. The muscles in his arms
tightened as he gripped the steering wheel. “She collects them. I buy her a new
one every month or so. I haven’t had a chance to give it to her.”

The engine’s thrum eclipsed the silence. Alex guided the SUV
onto the highway, his body visibly relaxing. Juliana set the stuffed kitten on
the dashboard.

Alex steered around a slow-moving sedan, his corded arms
flexing as he shifted the wheel. “Do you have other psychic talents I should
know about?”

She laughed dryly. “None that I’m aware of. I’m still
working my way around this new touch telepathy.”

Her gaze shifted to a couple of tree squirrels frolicking in
the wooded pines. They drove through the exclusive hillside area on the edge of
suburbia. The fragrant evergreen forest filtered into the interior,
overpowering the pine air freshener, refreshing and diverting.

Her former doctor, Brian Miller, had explained to her that
she might have the capability for touch telepathy since her psychic makeup was
powerful and diverse. He also told her it would take a major blow to the system
for the skill to manifest itself in her—if then.

Was bumping into Alex and linking with a kidnapper who had a
strong psychic transmitter a big enough trigger? And finding out the kidnapped
child was Alex’s niece? She couldn’t imagine a greater whack to the system.

* * * * *

Alex banged on the Douglases’ door and rang the bell several
times.

Palpable tension oozed off him. Juliana placed her hand on
his forearm and he turned toward her, a questioning slant to his eyebrows.

“Hey, relax,” Juliana said as her eyes locked with his and
held until his expression softened.

Juliana broke the spell and dropped her trembling hand. She
peeped through the mini blinds on the window beside the door. “Looks like no
one’s home.”