Colleen Coble (12 page)

“So do you. You and the rest of your team do some pretty heroic things.”

His face heated at the admiration on her face. “It’s just part of the job. What are you going to tell your parents about Raine?”

Her smile vanished. “I don’t know. I fear your first assessment is right. They will want to take custody. And they have a lot of money.”

He shrugged even though her comment made his gut tighten. “My family is wealthy too, and my parents will spend their last dime to keep her with us.”

“And Raine will be caught in the middle.” She rubbed her forehead. “It’s a terrible tangle, Curtis.”

He liked the sound of his name on her lips. Liked the almost confiding tone she used, as if they were on the same side. And really, weren’t they? He had to believe she wanted what was best for Raine. “What about our investigation? I’m still not convinced anyone intended to hurt either of them.”

“You said the boat seemed to head straight for Gina. Did she say anything in the days leading up to her death? Give you any indication she was worried?”

“No.” The word slipped out before he allowed himself to think about it, and he knew it was because he didn’t
want
to think that someone had killed her. “I mean, I don’t know.” He thought back to the last couple of weeks. “Wait a minute.”

“What?”

“She drew up paperwork appointing me guardian. Gina had
never thought that far ahead before. I wondered why she was worrying about it. I mean, she had to know I’d take Raine without a formal will.”

“When did she do the paperwork?”

He thought back to the day Gina had come to him to tell him what she was doing and to make sure he was cool with it. “Three days before she died. I thought she was just being careful, but maybe there was more to it than that.”

“What did she do when Ben was here? Who did they see?”

He shrugged. “I hardly kept tabs on them.”

Her eyes were intense with interest. “Did she live with you?”

“Nope. She and Raine lived in an upstairs condo out on the quay.”

She straightened. “So people would have seen them. Could we go snoop around there? Ask her neighbors if they saw anything?”

“Sure thing. I think it’s a good idea.” The breeze whipped her curls as she turned to watch the kiteboarding, and he couldn’t look away. There were six kites aloft, almost breathtaking in the sunlight, and he saw the interest on her face. “You ever been up on one?”

She shook her head. “I don’t like high places.”

He grinned. “I’ll take you up, and I promise not to let you fall.”

“You would be deafened by the screams by the time we got down.”

He cupped his ear. “What was that?”

She laughed, a light melodic sound that made his smile widen. He wouldn’t mind listening to that all day long.

T
WELVE

A
my relished the warm sun on her skin and the sound of the surf. She kicked off her sandals and dug her toes into the sand at the edge of the sheet. Being on Hope Island was rejuvenating for her, and the frozen state she’d been in since Ben’s death was beginning to thaw. Kites fluttered in the breeze against a backdrop of the surf’s mesmerizing murmur. Boston’s hustle-bustle was a million miles away. The island was a place apart, a Brigadoon. Different from any other spot, safer somehow.

Though it hadn’t been safe for Ben. She still reeled from everything she’d learned since she’d arrived. Drugs. Was it possible? If so, she wanted to hide it from her parents.

She let sand trickle through her fingers. She still didn’t see Curtis’s broad-shouldered figure. He’d gone down the beach to a vendor to fetch water for them both. It had been a pleasant interlude, but they still had yet to decide on a course of action. The problem was that they had so little to go on. Her gut instinct was all they had. At least he believed enough to help her pursue it.

“Amy?”

Dara stood about five feet away with another woman with dishwater hair that was styled in a spiky cut that gave her a youthful flair. She appeared to be in her fifties.

Amy stood and brushed the sand from her hands. “Hi, Dara. Are you enjoying the show?”

“It’s very thrilling. Are you going to compete?”

Amy shook her head. “Not hardly. You?”

“I wish I could! I love adventure. I’ve been trying to talk Aunt Winona here into learning.” She glanced at the other woman. “I don’t think you two have met. This is my aunt, Winona Anderson. We’re here for a month.”

“Pleased to meet you. Have you been here before?”

“This is our first time. I’m looking to buy a house next to the handsome Coast Guard officer who helped save us,” Winona said. “So you might be seeing a lot of us. We wouldn’t move here, of course. I have my constituents to take care of, and Dara has her modeling career to pursue. But I could see coming over in our boat every month.”

Modeling? Amy thought Dara worked for Preston. “How nice. You’re in politics, Winona?”

The older woman nodded. “I’m a North Carolina state senator.”

“So I’m sure you know Preston Kendrick as well.”

“Of course. That’s how Dara here ended up helping on his campaign. She’s hoping the visibility will help her modeling.”

“You live here?” Dara frowned as though she didn’t like her aunt talking about her.

Amy nodded. “I own Rosemary Cottage on the edge of town. You may have seen it? It’s the one with the herb garden in the front yard.”

“Cute place.”

Her tone insinuated otherwise, but Amy refused to take offense. “You’re a model, huh? How can you do that and work for Preston too?”

Dara colored a little. “Well, modeling is slow right now. It will pick up again soon. In the meantime, I’m doing good for the country. What do you do?”

“I’m a midwife.” Amy smiled, knowing how that was likely to go over.

Winona had a bottle of water to her lips, and she choked. “A—A midwife? They’re illegal in North Carolina.”

“I’m a registered nurse midwife, and we can practice legally. We’re working to change the status of all midwives in the state though.” She smiled at Winona. “You could help.”

“Oh dear, I’m quite opposed to the bill in the house right now. I’m afraid I can offer you no support.”

Winona’s warm manner had disappeared. Amy had gotten used to the prejudice she often encountered. Even people who should realize birth was a natural process and had taken place in homes for thousands of years sometimes gave her odd looks.

She saw Libby and Alec strolling on the beach with Noah in Alec’s arms. She waved them over. At least they could help defuse the tension.

“Hey, Libs, you look a little pale. Sit down.” Amy took her arm and helped her settle on the beach blanket.

“I think we came farther than I realized.” Libby held out her arms for the baby, and Alec handed him to her. “Would you get me some water, honey?”

He gave her a worried look. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”

“You could try to call Curtis. That’s where he is,” Amy told him.

He grinned and shook his head. “Cell doesn’t work here. I’ll find him.” He jogged off on tanned, muscular legs.

“You delivered Libby’s baby, I hear?” Winona asked.

Amy nodded. “Noah was born at my cottage.”

“Do you have a license to practice in your home, Amy?” Winona wasn’t smiling.

What was her beef? Amy was beginning to wish she’d never brought up her profession. “Libby was visiting and her water broke. Noah came very quickly. I don’t have a clinic set up at my house,
but I have an overseeing physician. I’m perfectly legal.” Well, she was. She
had
to find a new physician.

The woman shrugged and pursed her lips. “I hear your brother drowned surfing. I thought your last name was familiar. Ben Lang was your brother, heir to the Lang Banking services. It was all over the papers when it happened. He was killed by a shark. Or drowned and was eaten.”

Amy hid her wince. “So they say.” Everyone knew her family, and few people believed foul play was involved. “Do you know my parents?”

Winona nodded. “Your father is one of my biggest supporters. I attended the memorial service for your brother.” Her demeanor softened, and she put her hand on Amy’s arm. “He told me you have some crazy idea it was murder.”

“I have reasons for doubting the official answer.”

“I know it’s hard to let go of a loved one, my dear, but chasing crazy ideas will lead you nowhere but into more pain. Let it go.”

It was all Amy could do to stay still and not shake the woman’s hand away. “Thank you for your concern.”

The older woman released her. “We’d better go, Dara.” The women walked off.

Would Winona call Amy’s father and tell him about the lecture? Her parents would be sure to give her a call.

Amy pulled on a pink-and-white dress, then went to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. She held it up to Heather, who sat swaddled in a pink fuzzy robe at the table. “Want some?”

“Sure.” Heather’s voice was still sleepy, and her hair was tangled.

Amy didn’t know what time the girl had come in last night.
She’d found some people to hang out with. Amy poured coffee into Heather’s cup.

“Thanks.” Heather cupped the coffee in her palms.

“Want to come to church with me this morning? You’ll get a chance to meet more people.”

“I don’t thi—” A thoughtful expression crossed her face. “Wait a minute. Will Curtis be there with Raine?”

The girl sure wanted out of that restaurant. Amy nodded. “Probably. He usually goes.”

“How long do I have to get ready?”

“Twenty-five minutes, thirty tops.”

“I can make it.” Carrying her coffee, Heather hurried from the kitchen.

The girl was going to hound Curtis about that job again. Amy carried her coffee to the back deck. The spring morning held a hint of moisture, and dew shimmered on the grass. The fence along the back of the property was falling over in one section, and she made a mental note to call a carpenter. Then she saw why it had been knocked over.

A banker pony stood munching her flowers. Its tail swished as it glanced up at her, then bent down to take another bite of her flowers. The small horses were total nuisances.

She set her coffee on the small table and leaped to her feet. “Shoo, go!” Waving her arms, she advanced on the animal.

The reddish horse snorted but didn’t back away from her herbs. As she neared, still yelling and waving her arms, she saw a deep gash on the horse’s flank. His foot was tangled in some calendula. The fight went out of her.

She held out her hand. “Oh, you poor thing. I’m glad you ate some calendula. It will help that wound heal.” He quivered when she laid a gentle palm on his side. “You need some help. Wait right here.”

She ran back to the house and grabbed her medical bag. When
she returned, the horse was still standing where she left him. He didn’t try to bite her or kick when she sterilized the wound, then pulled the edges together and glued them in place. She smeared calendula ointment on the wound.

“You don’t seem afraid of people, boy.” She smoothed his flanks, then ran her hand along his neck. His coat was ragged. “You need a good currying. I’ll have to get a brush.”

The horse seemed to understand her intentions. He snorted and pawed the grass. His head dipped down to take a bite of her herbs. She didn’t try to stop him. The damage to her garden was already done.

She was so intent on the horse that she didn’t hear anyone approaching until he cleared his throat, and she turned to see Tom behind her. The sheriff stood watching her actions. His hat was pushed to the back of his head, and perspiration beaded his forehead. The hems of his pants were damp from dew. He wasn’t bad looking, but she saw no ring on his left hand.

He didn’t smile. “You’re good at that.”

She stepped away from the horse. “He got cut by the thorns.”

The sheriff waved away some gnats. “Stupid animals are a nuisance. They should be herded up and corralled.”

“I love seeing them roaming the island.” She surveyed her mangled garden ruefully. “Though I wish he would have stayed out of my herbs. What can I do for you, Sheriff? Do you have news?”

He took out his notebook. “I’ve been going over the notes surrounding your brother’s death, and I came on something I needed to talk to you about. You have a minute?”

She glanced at her watch. “A few. I could miss the singing, and the rest of the congregation will thank you.” Ben used to say she sounded like a frog. “Want some coffee?”

“Wouldn’t turn it down.”

He followed her toward the house. As they entered the back
door, she glanced behind and saw that the horse had left, now that he’d inflicted all his damage. Heather still wasn’t in the kitchen. Amy poured the sheriff a cup of coffee while he pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat down.

He palmed the cup. “Nice house. I’ve never been inside.”

“Thanks.” She sat at the table. “So what’s this about?”

“The only evidence we have is your brother’s wetsuit, the damaged surfboard, and his belongings left on the beach.”

She winced but nodded. “Not much evidence since the sea consumed his remains.”

Tom sipped his coffee, then put it back on the table. “His wallet is missing.”