Keepers of the Cave (19 page)

“You think that’ll stop a bear?”

Paige met her gaze. “No.” She shook her head. “I also don’t think it was a bear.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ice rolled the piece of paper between his fingers expertly, a grin on his face. It was good to hear CJ’s voice.

“Bored out of my mind,” she said in response to his question. “There is nothing, and I mean
nothing
out here. Forty minutes to the nearest restaurant and it’s a little dive that I’m wondering how it passed inspection.”

“So they have a cafeteria there for you or what?”

CJ laughed. “Yeah. It’s called Paige Riley.”

Ice and Billy exchanged grins.

“She hasn’t killed you yet then?” Billy asked.

“Let’s say she’s come close,” CJ said. “My lone entertainment is pushing her buttons and waiting for the explosion.”

“Really, are you two getting along okay?” Ice asked. “It wasn’t like you hung out or anything around here.”

There was only a slight pause before CJ answered. “It’s hit- and-miss. Some days we get along great. Others, not so much.”

Billy leaned closer to the phone and Ice knew exactly what his next question was going to be. It was one he’d asked Ice on numerous occasions.

“So, like, are you sharing a bed and everything?”

“Yeah, Billy. And we’re having wild sex every night too,” she snapped.

“You don’t have to bite my head off. I was just curious.”

“I’d like to see you and Ice share this one-bedroom, one-bath little place and see if you wouldn’t go bat-shit crazy too.”

Ice laughed. “Man, I’ve missed you. Been so quiet here without you.”

“Yeah. I miss you too. A few months of this and I’ll be out of my freakin’ mind. We drove an hour and a half to the nearest gay bar, for God’s sake. Then—”

“You and Paige went to a gay bar together?” Billy asked.

“Yes. And we danced too. We
are
supposed to be a couple, remember?”

“So you made some friends?”

“Yes. They’re a close-knit group here. They included us right away. That part was easy. We also had lunch with Fiona Hogan. She’s been really sheltered, you can tell, but she was nice. She and Paige seemed to hit it off. Paige is going to have lunch with her this week.”

“Well, we got the results from the gate logs,” Ice said, sitting up in his chair and pulling up the chart on his screen. “Now we know why that file was so huge. It was nearly twelve years’ worth of data. I guess it’s everything from when they had that system installed.”

“So what did you find?”

“We got some patterns. Enough to say that I think this assignment isn’t the short end of the stick after all.”

“Oh? You mean us stuck out here in the boonies wasting our time might not be such a waste after all?”

“Maybe,” he said. “Over the course of a year, Fiona and Gretchen Hogan both have random exits from the school during the week. Not often for either of them. But going back the last six years, there’s a pattern. Twice each year, they both exit the same Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Fiona is always about an hour earlier than Gretchen.”

“When do they return?”

“Late. Or early,” he said. “Usually after two a.m.” He could picture her pacing, calculating.

“And this coincides with the disappearances?”

“Yes. The week each girl disappeared, the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Fiona and Gretchen left the school.”

“What did Howley say about it?”

“They’re going to put together a database with the unsolved disappearances in the area and go back twelve years, the length of our file. See if their pattern matches. But he’s passed the info on to the boys in Baton Rouge. They’re still investigating there as if that’s ground zero. But they don’t have shit to go on.”

“Well, it’s not like we have anything here.”

“No, and we don’t have anything else either. There’s just not a lot out there on Hoganville. Billy found a mention of it in an old newspaper article written about forty years ago. Brief. Just mentioning how a family settlement had grown to over two hundred. It compared them to the Amish, with how secluded they keep themselves.”

“Yeah, and you can tell it was larger. There are a lot of houses that are boarded up now.” He heard her let out a heavy breath. “I need to go,” she said. “I’ve got to guard a goddamn classroom. Christ, I hate this job.”

He and Billy both laughed. “Prison guard is not your thing?”

“A bunch of smart-mouthed girls who think they’re hot shit here. Now
this
is a waste of time. Most of them will be right back out there when they’re released. The next time they go through the system, they’ll be adults and they can see what a real prison is like.”

“Good to hear your voice, CJ,” Ice said. “You could call once in a while, you know.”

“Works both ways, baldy,” she said before ending the call.

Ice was still grinning when he rolled the paper wad between his fingers, tossing a perfect strike against Billy’s ear. Billy swatted at him, scowling.

“You know I hate that.”

“Yeah. That’s why I do it.”

Billy sighed. “I miss them. I really miss Paige, but I kinda miss CJ too.”

“What do you think is going on with them?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, CJ wasn’t complaining nearly as much as I thought she’d be.”

Billy grinned. “You think they’re doing the dirty?”

“Paige and CJ?” He shook his head. “I just don’t see it. Paige is too...well, she’s Paige.”

“Yeah. And CJ is CJ. She’s doing good to know what fork to use at dinner. But they sure do flirt a lot.”

“They just do that to entertain us, man. And I miss that.” He grinned, getting an evil idea. “Let’s send them a present.”

“What kind of present?”

“You know. Something that CJ would definitely know what to do with and something that would make Paige blush like a choir girl.” At Billy’s blank look, Ice rolled his eyes. “A dildo, man.”

Billy’s eyes widened as he smiled. “That’s evil. I love it.”

“Yeah. Evil.” He laughed. “They’re going to kill us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

It had been three nights since things had changed between them. Four nights, really, if she counted the dance...and the kiss. But after Sunday night, after Paige had crossed the line and comforted CJ, after the incident with the
bear
, things had changed. She knew it. CJ knew it. Yet not a word was spoken about it.

The tension between them was almost unbearable, and yes, she would admit that it was sexual tension. Especially at night, in bed. The imaginary line had disappeared completely and the last two mornings, Paige had found herself next to CJ, having moved to her during the night. Yesterday, she’d managed to move away before CJ woke. This morning, however, when she opened her eyes, CJ was awake, watching her, her hand moving in lazy circles across her back. Paige had tried to sit up, away from her, but CJ had stopped her.

“You don’t have to move.”

There was enough light for Paige to see CJ’s expression, read her eyes. There was no teasing there, no sign of gloating because CJ had caught Paige—again—on the wrong side of her established boundary. There was just a contentment in her eyes that made Paige want to lie back down. Which she did. Her eyes drifted closed again as CJ’s hand continued its ministrations.

When the alarm had gone off, CJ was already on her run. Paige was out of the shower and dressed by the time CJ got back, her skin glistening with sweat. Paige had averted her eyes, but it was too late. CJ had seen where her gaze was fixed. She had turned beet red as CJ sauntered past her, murmuring a quiet “busted” on her way.

Now she was avoiding going home, avoiding CJ. She hadn’t spoken with her all day, which was unusual. Normally they would speak on the phone at least once, however brief it may be. The school was quiet, everyone already having left for the day. She stood in the breezeway, looking out across campus. She could see groups of girls sitting around in the fenced-in area they called the Rec Yard. The blues had more freedom, but the reds were allowed an hour each evening before dinner to gather outside. Suzette told her that this time of year, few took advantage of it, preferring to stay inside to escape the heat. She turned to go and ran smack into a hard body. She let out a startled gasp, CJ’s hands coming out to steady her.

“Sorry.”

“Jesus, CJ. This place is spooky enough without you scaring me to death.” She turned away, heading down the hall, feeling CJ following her. “What are you doing here?”

“Checking on you.”

“I was just on my way home,” she said.

“Had some paperwork to finish? Lesson plans?”

Paige stopped, facing her. “What are you insinuating?”

“That you’re avoiding me.”

Paige tried to keep her expression even. “Why would I be avoiding you?”

CJ arched an eyebrow. “You really want me to answer that? Because I will.”

Their eyes met and Paige felt a now familiar flutter in her stomach. “We can’t do this,” she said quietly. “We shouldn’t even
think
about doing this.”

CJ’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “What is it we’re thinking about doing?” she asked, her voice equally as low.

Paige sighed. “Let’s don’t play games, CJ. Please? Not about this.”

CJ let out a breath. “Okay. Tell me what you want me to do? Start sleeping on the sofa?”

“No.” Paige shook her head. “I just...we can’t—”

“Do you ever think about that night?”

Paige looked away, hesitating. Would CJ believe her if she said it never crossed her mind? But she didn’t want to lie. She met her eyes again, knowing CJ could see the truth there. She didn’t need to answer.

CJ nodded. “Me too.” She smiled, although Paige could tell it was a bit forced. CJ finally took a step away from her, putting some distance between them. “But you’re right. We can’t...do this.”

Paige relaxed, feeling some of the tension ease. “Dinner?”

“Yeah? You want me to surprise you and whip something up?”

Paige continued down the hallway, CJ at her side. “I’ll take care of it. Remember my kitchen rule?”

CJ laughed. “You have a lot of rules, baby.”

“Yes, and you’ve managed to break nearly all of them.”

“But you, my dear, broke the big one first, not me.”

And just like that, the tension was back. Yes, Paige had crossed the line, not CJ. Paige was the one who had moved into her arms during the night. Paige was the one who had obliterated the imaginary line.

Once home, she tried to keep things normal between them, tried to keep the conversation light and impersonal. CJ was trying too. But despite all that, accidental touches still sent her heart fluttering. It was ridiculous how easily she could fall into CJ’s eyes and how hard it was to drag herself out of them.

Thankful that dinner was over, she declined CJ’s offer to share the TV with her, instead retreating safely into the bedroom. Safely, because she was alone. Later, however, she couldn’t be sure just how safe it would be.

She needn’t have worried. CJ was apparently engrossed in a movie and she simply murmured “goodnight,” never taking her eyes from the screen. Paige allowed herself to stretch out a little, enjoying the coolness of the sheets against her skin. She would never tell CJ this, but she was accustomed to sleeping naked and she found the T-shirt she normally wore to be entirely too confining. After rolling to her side to face the wall, she did another check of the window, making sure the blinds were pulled down well past the window frame. Satisfied that nothing could see in, she closed her eyes, surprised to find herself relaxing, the sound of the TV in the other room not loud enough to be distracting but enough to lull her to sleep.

She never felt CJ join her and was surprised hours later to find the bed still empty. She rolled over, feeling the sheets. There was no evidence CJ had ever been there. So she sat up, contemplating whether she should go check on her or just leave her be. Her concern won out and she got up, walking quietly to the door. The TV was off and she could make out CJ’s form curled in the corner of the sofa, her arms used as a pillow. Paige stared at her for a long moment, wondering what thoughts had gone through CJ’s mind last night when she’d decided to sleep out here instead of the bed. Had she given CJ the impression that she didn’t want her in their bed or had CJ simply inferred that?

She finally moved, squatting down next to her. She gently touched her shoulder. “Hey,” she whispered.

CJ’s eyes opened and she blinked several times. “What time is it?”

“Late. Come to bed,” Paige said, standing.

“I didn’t want you to...well—”

“No. Come to bed,” she said again. Now was not the time for a talk.

CJ sat up, twisting her neck back and forth, then stretching her shoulders back. She followed Paige, waiting until she was under the covers before getting in herself. CJ stayed on her side and Paige was thankful. She was tired and just wanted to go back to sleep.

“Thank you,” CJ murmured.

Paige smiled. “Goodnight, tiger.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“Oh, I know,” Paige said with a laugh. “She’s told me in no uncertain terms that Zumba is
not
part of the curriculum.”

Fiona laughed along with Paige, wondering when the last time was that she’d laughed so heartily and sincerely. She’d run into Paige in the breezeway yesterday and Paige had suggested they share lunch today. She agreed, thinking she might get a chance to ask some of the questions Mother Hogan had passed by her. But now, sitting out in the courtyard with clouds and a slight breeze keeping the temperature comfortable, she was enjoying herself too much to be concerned with Mother Hogan’s intended interrogation.

“She likes to pretend she runs the school,” Fiona said. “When Director Sanchez left we were all hoping she’d retire but she stuck it out. Director Avery seems to like her.”

“Maybe he just tolerates her,” Paige suggested.

Fiona nodded, her gaze traveling over Paige’s features—her blond hair tucked behind each ear, smooth skin, makeup applied to look like there was no makeup. Fiona didn’t wear makeup, never had. Only when she went to college did she see women with makeup. One night when she’d been feeling particularly rebellious, she’d almost purchased some. But in the end, she’d remember Mother Hogan’s warning not to get sucked into the outside world. She wished she had now. Paige looked so fresh, so wholesome. So beautiful. Her blue eyes had a hint of green in them today, perhaps from being outside. There was also a sparkle in those eyes that she envied, and she wondered if hers
ever
had that. She realized she was staring when Paige stopped talking.