Finders Keepers (35 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Finders Keepers
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Luke Holt shifted incomfortably in his chair as he debated how to respond to the tormented young woman across from him. At his feet, Buzz whimpered. “I don't know if I believe in spirits or not. I've never personally come across any. My mother believed in them. If you need a definite answer, then I'd say I have an open mind. I understand what you're saying about a place. A place is comforting.”
Consuela appeared with a tray holding two more frosty beer bottles. Jessie reached for one at the same time Luke did. A bolt of electricity shot up her arm. She jerked it away to Luke's amusement.
“Sophie was my friend from the time I was little. She was the smartest person I know. She could do anything, legal or illegal. No matter what the problem was, Sophie could solve it. She knew everyone. She used to network, as she called it. Sophie could fix anything except her own life.”
“She sounds like a saint. I find it hard to believe someone could be that perfect. That is the word you think of in regard to your friend, isn't it? Did you ever, even for a few minutes, consider that she was a controlling person?”
Jessie sniffed. “I hope that wasn't a trite remark. You're right, she is . . . was a saint. I hope she's an angel now. Sophie would make a beautiful angel. She was the most important thing in the world to me, and I let her down. In all our years, Sophie never let me down. She was always there for me one hundred percent.”
“I don't believe for one minute that you could have stopped her, and I don't think you do either. Your friend would have done what she did regardless if you were there or not. You can't take the blame for someone's suicide.”
“That's what Mr. Mendenares said. He told me to call him Arthur.”
“Who is Arthur?”
Jessie wondered if she was drunk. She felt drunk, and she knew she was talking too much, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. “Arthur is Sophie's lawyer. He runs
everything
. Everything is a lot. When are we going to eat? You invited me for dinner, didn't you?”
“Hear that bell? If you will allow me,” Luke said, holding out his hand. “Dinner is being served.”
“What are we having? Do you know or is it always a surprise? When you have your own kitchen you always know what you're having when you sit down. Sophie was the wind beneath my wings. Did I tell you that? I eat most anything. That beer went to my head. Am I . . . you know, sloshed? You don't seem like a bad guy, you know, the enemy type. Except for that shotgun. I really like your dog.”
“You're on your way,” Luke said, turning away so she wouldn't see his grin. “Ah, let's see, mashed potatoes, roast beef, salad, fresh peas and carrots, corn, fresh bread, and probably cherry pie for desert.”
“This is certainly a lot of food,” Jessie said squinting at the table. “Don't give me any more beer, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Do you eat alone every night?”
“Yes.”
“It's lonely, isn't it. Even if you're having just a sandwich, it's better to eat it with someone. Sophie and I always ate together when she was in town. She was an architect. She passed all nine parts of the test the first time around.”
“Amazing.”
“Not just amazing.
Fucking amazing.
Sophie graduated
summa cum laude
. Sophie loved to swear to shock people.”
Luke chewed industriously so Jessie wouldn't see his smile. “You must miss her very much.”
Jessie stirred the food on her plate. “If I could just understand, it might be easier to handle. I don't think I will ever understand. I didn't even wash my hands. I have to get home. Is this wine or ice tea?”
“Wine.”
“Oh. In that case, I'll drink it.”
“You should eat first.”
“I don't like rare meat. I hardly ever eat meat. Killing animals is terrible.” Luke pushed his plate away. He leaned across the table. “Tell me about Jessie Kingsley. I'm up to here with Sophie,” he said, touching his forehead.
“That's what Tanner said. Too bad, Mr. Holt. You said you were a good listener. You aren't. I am not any of your business. Besides, you're the enemy. I'm just Jessie, and Jessie is dull and boring.”
“Where are you from, Jessie?”
Jessie gulped at the wine in her glass. “Here, there, everywhere. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“It killed the cat you know. Who is Luke Holt?” Jessie asked craftily.
“Luke Holt is just a hardworking rancher who lost his fiancée to a terminal disease a while back.”
“Where's your family?”
“They're gone. I live here with Buzz and run the ranch. We do just fine. Next year it will be different, when my stepbrothers come here to stay. For now it's just Buzz and me.”
“You don't like the Kingsleys, do you?”
“No, I don't.”
“They don't like you either,” Jessie said smartly. “How drunk do you think I am?”
“I think you just crossed the line from tipsy to crocked. You aren't going to get sick or anything like that, are you?”
“Lord no.”
“That's good.”
“You should be married. I'm sorry your fiancée died. You never get over death. You have nice eyes and a nice smile when you aren't scowling. You need to pet that dog more often. I really like him. Do you think he'd sit still for me to sketch him?”
“Probably if you give him Fig Newtons. He loves Fig Newtons. Does that mean you're coming back? I'd welcome the company, but I don't think the Kingsleys will approve. My advice is to be careful.”
“I'm not supposed to come here. You-are-off-limits. Maybe I could meet you somewhere.”
“That probably isn't a good idea either. I'll take you home now. Drink some of that coffee before we leave.”
“That's not my home,” Jessie snorted. “I'm just staying here. Tem-por-arily. I shouldn't be telling you all this personal stuff. I'm going to leave.”
“I see.”
“No, you don't. People always say that when they don't know what else to say. Oh, oh, why is this room spinning around?”
“Because you're drunk. Let's go outside in the fresh air. I can't take you home in this condition.”
“Why not? No one is there.
Mrs
. Kingsley went away and
Mister
Kingsley is in town with Bippity-Bop. He's been having an affair with her, but he won't admit it. I moved out of the room. I shouldn't tell you these things. Don't tell anyone, okay.”
“I promise not to tell. Is the world still spinning around? How about if I drive you to Resa's house?”
“Resa moved away. She's the smart one. She won't tell anyone where she is, so Alexis can't screw up her life again. Don't tell that to anyone either, okay?”
“I promise not to tell. Get in the truck and put your seat belt on. Hop in the back, Buzz.”
“Am I taking his seat? C'mon, Buzz, you can sit on my lap. I really love this dog. I asked for a dog, but Tanner said he and his mother are a-lergic. When I move I'm getting a dog. Does Buzz have any puppies?”
“Nope.”
“Too bad. If he gets some, will you give me one? I'll really love it. I'll rub his belly and scratch his ears all day long. I need somebody. I miss Sophie. Sophie is the only one who loved me. You can't count my mother because she was . . . emotionally sick. ”
Luke stared at Jessie, a helpless look on his face. In his life he'd never seen a more miserable, unhappy human being. He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come. He reached for her. Until that moment he had no idea how thin she was. He held her while she cried. When she finally sat up and dried her eyes, he said, “If you need a friend, Buzz and I are offering up our friendship. Come by anytime you want. If you just want to talk, I'm listed in the phone book. Friendship, Jessie.”
Jessie's head bobbed up and down. “I'm really sorry about upsetting your evening. Sometimes things get a bit overwhelming. Sophie always said for every action there is a reaction. I reacted.”
“It takes time to heal, Jessie. I know, I was in your place not too long ago. You have to take it one day at a time.”
“I know, but before you can heal you have to understand. What if I never understand? On top of all that, the whole thing is mine now. Damn, the world is spinning again.”
“Take a deep breath. Do you want me to pull over to the side of the road? What whole thing are you talking about?”
Jessie turned to stare at the man across from her. She took a deep breath. “I mumble and mutter sometimes. Don't pay any attention to me.”
“Should I keep that to myself, too?”
Jessie's head reeled. Did she just say what she thought she said? She wanted to cry all over again. “Yes, please,” she whispered.
“Okay, Miss Jessie, this is your road. I can't drive you to the door, because the Kingsleys and I have restraining orders on each other. I have to stay on public land. Buzz will walk you to the door. Remember what I said about being your friend.”
“I remember everything that's important. I truly value friendship. Thank you for dinner and for bringing me home.”
“It was my pleasure,” Luke said gallantly.
Jessie wobbled down the rutted road that led to the ranch. She jabbered nonstop to the yellow dog, who walked at her side. When she reached the back door she dropped to her haunches so that she was at eye level with the dog. “I wish you were mine. I don't know why that is, but I know I could love you. I just know it. I think I'm okay. Go back to Luke now.”
“Woof.”
“Woof, yourself,” Jessie giggled as she hugged the dog. “Go on now, Luke's waiting.”
The big dog turned and growled deep in his throat as a dark shadow approached the young woman at his side.
“Tanner!”
16
“What are you doing out here, Jessie? Whose dog is that?”
Jessie didn't need to see her husband's face clearly to know he was in an ugly mood. Her hold on Buzz's collar was secure. She could feel the big dog start to tremble. “I went riding and something spooked Sunny and I fell off. This wonderful creature brought me home.” God, was this flat, fearful-sounding voice her own? When and how did she become so fearful?
“Whose truck is parked out on the road by our driveway?”
“What truck?” Jessie asked, stalling for time.
“Don't play games with me. Why is the dog still here? Do I smell liquor on your breath?”
“You absolutely do. I've been drinking. Three beers, maybe it was four,
and
a glass of wine. What do you think of that, Tanner?”
“Easy, boy, easy. Go home now. Go. God, please go,” Jessie whispered to the dog. The big dog growled deep in his throat, his ears going flat against his head. Jessie, still on her haunches, tried to get in front of the dog, but he moved and she toppled over to roll on her stomach. She watched in horror as Tanner picked up his booted foot. If the dog didn't move, he was going to get kicked in the head. She rolled over, exhausting the last of her strength as she reached out for Tanner's leg, knocking him off-balance. Buzz barked loudly, the sound rolling across the pasture and on out to the road. When Jessie opened her eyes a moment later the big dog had his two front paws on Tanner's neck. In the moonlight she could see Buzz's bared teeth, his massive head just inches from Tanner's face.
“Get this fucking dog off me before I kill him.”
Her legs wobbly, Jessie managed to get to her feet. “Isn't it the other way around, Tanner? What kind of person tries to kick an animal in the head? Not someone I want to know.”
“Enough is enough, Jessie. Get this dog off me.”
“He's not my dog. He isn't going to listen to me. I wouldn't move if I were you. He was defending himself. He knew what you were going to do. Animals have instincts, and they never forget.”
“Get him off me. He weighs a fucking ton. I swear to good Christ if I ever see this mutt on my land, I'll shoot him.”
Suddenly, Jessie was stone-cold sober. She dropped to her knees to peer at her husband in the light spilling through the kitchen door. Her voice was as full of menace as Buzz's deep growl. “If you ever raise a hand to this dog, I'll be forced to shoot you myself. That's not a threat, Tanner, it's a promise.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now get him off me.”
“C'mon, Buzz, good boy. Get off him.” The dog ignored her and growled again before he sat down on Tanner's chest.
“Buzz, good boy, come here.”
Tanner strained to raise his arm. Buzz's mouth opened, and Tanner's wrist was clamped tight. “Okay, okay,” Tanner gasped.
“Want a Fig Newton, Buzz? Attaboy. Come on. I'll get you one.” The big dog leaped from Tanner's chest to race after Jessie, who was running out to the road where she collapsed against the truck. “Give him a Fig Newton. It was the only way I could get him off Tanner. If you love this dog, take him home and don't ever let him on this land. Tanner threatened to shoot him. He will, too. Buzz protected me. Thank you for allowing him to walk with me. Tanner's in an ugly mood,” she gasped, sweat dripping
“Are you going to be okay? Listen, I know all about Tanner's temper. Here's my phone number,” Luke said, handing over a business card from the glove compartment. “If things get out of hand, call me and come out to the road. I'll pick you up.”
Jessie nodded as she jammed the card down her bra before she sprinted down the road. “Don't forget to give him the cookie,” she called over her shoulder.
Luke fumbled in the console for a new package of Fig Newtons. “I don't have a good feeling about this, old boy. Jesus, I wish you could talk. I think we'll just sit here for a little while and eat this whole package of cookies. No, no, you aren't a lapdog. You weigh 80 pounds. You did good tonight, Buzz. Help yourself,” he said, dumping the cookies out on the dog's seat. You eat those cookies, I'll smoke my pipe, and if we don't see or hear anything by the time we're finished, we'll head home.
“She was kind of nice. She's got some hangups, but then don't we all? Living in that zoo will just give her more. However, that's none of our business. She needs a friend, Buzz. I'd consider lending you out on an hourly basis if it was anyone but the Kingsleys. You stay off those boundary lines, and we both know you know where they are.”
Sensing his master's strange mood, the golden dog stopped chewing to lay his massive head on Luke's knee. He whimpered as Luke massaged his silky head. “Okay, c'mon up, but it's going to be a tight squeeze with the wheel. I know you're worried. Do you know how I know you're worried? There's still six Newtons on the seat. I'm worried, too, but I think we're both overreacting.”
Man and dog sat quietly until the moon was high in the sky. Once, Buzz jerked his head upright to listen to a strange noise. Luke reached for the dog's collar when he thought the animal was going to bolt. The fine hairs on his own neck moved in the summer breeze wafting through the open windows of the truck. “I don't think it was her, Buzz. Voices carry clearly in the night air. It was probably one of the horses.” The big dog whimpered again as he pawed Luke's knee, as much as to say,
Either we check it out or we go home.
Luke turned the key in the ignition. “Tomorrow's another day, Buzz. We did our good deed. Let's go home. If you aren't going to eat those cookies, I'm throwing them out for the birds.” Buzz made no move to eat the treats he adored. “That bad, huh?” Luke shivered in the warm night, the fine hairs on the back of his neck still standing at attention.
A weight settled on Luke's shoulders that he couldn't explain.
 
“What the hell was that all about?”
Jessie hoped her voice wasn't as shaky-sounding as she felt. “What?”
“That business with the dog. Where did you take him?”
“Out to the road. I'm tired, Tanner. I'm going to bed.”
“I felt bad about leaving you, so I came home, and you let that goddamn dog attack me. I smelled liquor on your breath. What the hell is going on here?”
“I explained it to you once. I'm not going to do it again. Just for the record, I did not let the dog attack you. He did it on his own. You were a threatening presence. I'll say good night.”
“Not so fast. Who was that out on the road?”
“I'm not clairvoyant. You came down the road, why didn't you ask who it was? The road is public property. I'm going to bed.”
“Are you coming back to our room?”
“No.”
“Why did you put that lock on Resa's door?”
“To keep you out. Let go of my arm, Tanner. Don't do something you'll regret.”
“Is that a threat? You're getting awfully brazen all of a sudden. Why is that?”
“I said, let go of my arm, Tanner.”
“You're my goddamn wife. Don't tell me what to do.”
“You don't own me.”
“I have a piece of paper that says I do,” Tanner snarled.
“You have a piece of paper that says we're married. That piece of paper didn't stop you from screwing around while I was . . . sick. You do not own me. This is the last time I'm going to tell you to take your hand off my arm.”
Jessie felt rather than saw the sneer on her husband's face. “And what are you going to do about it.”
“This!” Jessie said, bringing up her knee into his groin. The moment Tanner doubled over, releasing his hold on her, she sprinted around the corner of the house, heading for the garage. The keys to her Jeep were in the ignition. All she had to do was open the door and drive the Jeep out to the road. Were the garage doors open? She simply couldn't remember. Did they work with a remote control? She had no idea about that either. Where was the side door? Was it kept locked? She lost precious time as she tried to lift the doors with no success. She didn't even know where the light switch was in the garage. A sob built in her throat as she ran around to the side door. The knob turned under her touch.
Jessie offered up a small prayer of thanks as she fumbled on the wall for the light switch. Finding nothing beneath her fingers but smooth plaster, she felt her way to the Jeep and climbed in. The keys were still in the ignition. “Thank you, God. Thank you, God,” she gasped.
Blinding whiteness engulfed her as the fluorescent lights overhead came to life. The sound of the engine turning over in the close confines of the garage sounded like a turbojet to her ears. She twisted to the left when she saw Tanner so that she could lock the door. When she heard the sound of the lock snicking into place, she shifted from Park to Drive just as the back door of the Jeep opened. A second later she felt Tanner's arm around her neck, choking off her air supply. Her right leg stiffened as she pressed down hard on the accelerator. The four-wheel drive crashed through the garage door, dragging Tanner with it. He was forced to loosen his grip on her neck so he could get all the way into the backseat. Ripe curses filled the air.
Gasping and choking, Jessie let go of the wheel to massage her neck, the Jeep coming to a halt at the end of the driveway.
Go! Go! Go!
Her mind shrieked. Bruised and battered, her body refused to obey her mind's order. All she wanted to do was sleep.
“Get out of the car, Jessie.”
Jessie climbed from the car, her shoulders slumped. She didn't fight when Tanner reached for her arm and dragged her across the yard, through the house, and upstairs to the room where she'd spent the last year. She was beaten and she knew it, just the way she knew what was coming next. Without a word she stripped off her clothes and climbed into the high four-poster.
A long time later she said coldly, “Are you finished?” When there was no response, she slid from the bed and walked naked out to the hall and into Resa's room. She locked the door behind her. In the bathroom she looked at her thin body and winced. The massive bruise on her neck and shoulders brought tears to her eyes.
She talked to herself as she lathered her body, then washed her hair. “I have to get out of here. I have to leave now.” She didn't know how she knew but she knew that Tanner had taken the keys from her Jeep. Did she have an extra set of keys? If she did, she had no idea where they were.
As she dressed she tried to formulate a plan in her head. If she weren't so tired, things would come together. What would Sophie do? Sophie wouldn't give up, that's for sure, she told herself. Terror gripped her then when she remembered Luke Holt's card that she'd stuck in her bra. A lump the size of a walnut lodged itself in her throat. She had to go back and get it.
Then what are you going to do?
Her heart thumping wildly in her chest, Jessie tiptoed down the hall to Tanner's room. She listened for any sound that would alert her to Tanner's wakefulness. Satisfied that all was quiet within the room, she opened the door and crept in. The card safely in her hand, she backed her way out of the room, pulled the door close to the jamb but didn't close it completely. She managed to get to the bottom of the steps and out to the stable, where she led Tulip into the cobbled stable yard. This time she didn't bother with a saddle but leaped on the horse and muttered, “Go, Tulip!” She held on to the mare's mane, certain she was going to black out any second. The moment she saw the Holt ranch in the moonlight she heaved a mighty sigh. “Whoa, girl, easy now.” The animal whickered softly. Jessie slid off, then tapped the horse's rump. “Go home, Tulip!” She watched as the mare trotted off the way they'd come.
Jessie eyed the distance to the house.
I can do this. I know I can do this. I have to do this. Put one foot in front of the
other
and
go forward. She almost fainted when she saw the back door looming in front of her. How was she to get in? Should she bang on the door and wake up Luke? Maybe she should go to the barn and sleep there. She saw it then, Buzz's doggie door. She dropped down and crawled through. She almost fainted a second time when she saw Buzz waiting for her. “Shhh,” she said. “I'm just going to sleep right here on this nice braided carpet.”
Buzz stared at the sleeping girl, circling the carpet, his tail swishing furiously. He whimpered as he tried to nudge her to wakefulness. He licked at her face and then her arms. When she didn't move he tried using his snout to wake her. When she still didn't move, he raced from the room to Luke's room and bounded onto the bed to tug at the pillow Luke was sleeping on. When it was free of his master's head, he pushed it onto the floor. With no regard for Luke's comfort he started to tug on the light quilt.
“Buzz, what the hell are you doing? Jesus, the things I put up with. Come back here! Where are you going with my pillow? The quilt, too! Okay, what did you do? It's okay, accidents happen. Consuela will get it in the morning.” He watched as Buzz dragged both the quilt and pillow to the top of the steps. With his snout he pushed them and then dragged them to the bottom of the steps. He stopped once to look at Luke. “Woof!”

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