Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #1 (14 page)

Lydia rolled her shoulders to ease the tension setting in. “Frankly, I'm glad he's showing his true colors to Kate. He has a one-track mind, and I know he's been pushing Kate to do things that—”

“That you did when you were a teenager,” Kate said from the doorway.

Lydia closed her eyes for a few seconds, then twisted in the chair to look at Kate. “Yes. I know firsthand the mistake it was.”

“He called and explained that Mandy's locker was stuck, and he helped her get it open. That was all.”

Don and Thomas came up behind Kate, and she stepped out of the entrance, disappearing around the corner into the living room. Probably to call or text Connor again. Lydia heaved a heavy sigh.

Thomas took the chair Don had used while the officer left to check outside. The detective slid the sketch to Lydia. “This is the sketch Nadine gave us of Sam Alexander. It fits the driver's license for that man. He worked in construction. The AFT agent is interviewing his employer about the C-4, but I've got a feeling some is missing.”

Lydia's gaze fixed on the young man who was found in a freezer in the bombed rental house. “So you think he supplied the C-4 to the bomber and that guy killed him so he couldn't identify him?”

“They could have been partners for the first bomb and had a falling-out,” Thomas said.

Jesse took a look at the sketch. “Or, maybe Alexander blackmailed the bomber after the first bomb went off.”

Thomas frowned. “The descriptions of the person we think might be the bomber are different each time. Remember that couple out walking on the street where the church was, not five minutes before the bomb went off? They saw a guy wearing a hoodie, slender build. And on the traffic cam near the hardware store, a person we think was the bomber leaving the scene before the explosion early that morning had a hoodie but a potbelly. Physical body type keeps changing as well as facial features and coloring.”

Lydia sat forward. “Hoodie? Like the guy I ran into as I went into the bistro. We collided as he left and he was wearing a hoodie.”

Jesse captured her gaze. “Did he have a potbelly?”

“I'm not sure. I think he was what I would call husky. Did the couple see the color of his eyes? The guy at the bistro had gray ones.”

“No, he had on sunglasses even though it was starting to get dark.” Thomas huffed. “We have thin, fat, old, young. Gray hair, dark hair.”

“If the couple saw the bomber, then why didn't he come after them like he is with me?”

Jesse snapped his fingers. “That's it. You saw the real bomber. The others were disguises—someone who knew how to apply makeup and play a role convincingly.”

“Okay, why the bistro?” Flashes of the fractured memories from that day paraded through her mind.

“Not sure. We may not have the bomber on that traffic cam and the couple might not have seen the guy doing this. But the person who brought Calvin in has to be the bomber.” Thomas stood. “But in disguise.”

“What about Shane Taylor and the black Chevy? What did you find out there? What does he look like?” Jesse rose and went to the coffeepot to refill his mug.

“He was like what the salesman in the appliance store described, and he has an alibi for the first two bombings. He said he was there looking for a washing machine.” As Thomas paced in a circle he looked at Lydia. “We're getting close. Hang in there. Well, I've taken a long enough break.”

Lydia chuckled. “You call this a break. You're going to need a month's vacation when this is over with.”

“Let us know what you find out about the C-4.” Jesse walked with Thomas toward the foyer.

Was the gray-eyed stranger she'd bumped into the bomber? And who was the man using the hallway exit?

So many questions and so few answers.

When Jesse returned and sat in the chair next to Lydia, she told him about the faceless person with gray eyes who haunted her. “I can't shake him. But I know the pharmacist has brown eyes. I can't picture who was fighting with Melinda yet, and the guy who left the bistro as I came in had gray eyes. And I'm sure the old man with Calvin had blue eyes. They misted with tears when he wasn't sure Calvin would make it. How reliable are my memories? They seem so disjointed.”

“Contact lenses can change a person's eye color.” Jesse stroked his hand down her arm, the gesture meant to reassure her.

What would happen when this was over? Lydia didn't want to think about that question. “I forgot to ask if Thomas ever found Phillip Keats. Did he find him?”

“Yes, he showed up at the drugstore around one with some story that he went for a drive to clear his head. At least that's what he told a coworker.”

“I guess it's a good thing he's part owner. A lot of bosses would fire someone over that.”

“I kind of know what Keats feels like. I would like to clear my head.”

“So would I. I keep getting brief images, and I can't tell what's real anymore. If only the bomber knew I have no idea who he is, he would leave me alone.”

Jesse pulled her toward him. “You're trying too hard.”

“I know you keep telling me that. Then I get a dirty look from Kate because of what's going on and—”

He laid two fingers over her lips. “Shh. Don't tell Thomas, but this evening let's not think about the bomber or the bombings. A deal?”

“Sounds wonderful. Although I'm not sure I'll be able to do it.”

“Tell you what. My SUV is ready. After dinner you can drive me to get it, then I'll follow you back here and we can go for a ride. Just you and me.”

“I don't think—”

“You're thinking too hard. I'm thinking too hard. I believe it'll help us. Let's go to Point Woronzof and see the sun set. Okay?”

“I haven't been there since we were teenagers.”

“Then it's a date.”

A date? Casually said, but it sparked memories. And here she was, still in love with Jesse. How was she going to deal with real life when the bomber was caught?

* * *

Leaving the parking lot at Point Woronzof, Jesse held Brutus's leash in one hand and Lydia's in the other as they made their way carefully down the hillside to the small-pebbled beach. Glacial silt tinted the waves gray as they washed up onto shore.

Lydia stopped and turned in a full circle. “I'd forgotten how beautiful this view of Cook Inlet and Mount Susitna are.”

“I've seen some glorious sunsets from here.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

As the sun started disappearing behind the mountain line across the inlet, Jesse recalled the first time he'd known he was in love with Lydia. It was the summer before their senior year in high school. They had a picnic dinner at this point and waited for the sun to go down. He'd wanted to tell her how he felt. He could never get the words out and didn't until they reconnected after she'd dated Aaron. At the time, he didn't realize it wouldn't make any difference. She eloped with Aaron not long after. Why did he suggest bringing her here?

Because while they were here, the world hadn't intruded and a feeling of peace pervaded, at least for a short time. They needed that right now, especially in the midst of all that was happening in Anchorage.

“Look. Do you see the whale?” Excitement flowed from Lydia as she moved closer to the water. “Seeing one never ceases to make me smile. They're so beautiful. The Lord has created a whole bunch of unique and fascinating animals.”

He pointed to a bald eagle flying above. “Like that one. Majestic.”

The joy in her expression spread through him as though it were contagious and for a moment it erased the tragedy and pain in their past and replaced it with the hope only the Lord could give them.

Jesse unhooked Brutus's leash and gave him the signal to play. His dog sniffed his surroundings, exploring a piece of driftwood on the beach.

Then as if to confirm Jesse's thoughts, the sky deepened to a rich orange golden color as the sun dropped behind the mountains. The peace he sought descended while the ravens performed their aerial tricks.

Jesse slipped his arms around Lydia and pulled her back against him. He rested his chin on the top of her head, smelling the apple scent in her shampoo. A memory from his childhood wound its way through his thoughts, bringing a smile to his lips. His mother had pulled an apple pie out of the oven and put it on a cold burner to cool. The aroma from the pie had filled the whole house. He'd started to pinch off a piece of the hot pie. His mom had quickly pulled him back and warned him of the hot plate, but she'd wrapped her arms around him, much as he now held Lydia, and hugged him.

Lydia twisted toward him and locked gazes with him. “Why are you sad?”

He hadn't realized that his expression revealed his sadness. The older he became, the dimmer his thoughts of his childhood with his parents became. He wanted to keep them close always. “The scent of your hair reminded me of my mother when she used to bake us an apple pie. I loved them. Now I can't eat a piece.”

“Because the smell brings back the thoughts of losing her?”

He nodded. Since Lydia had come back into his life, he'd done way too much thinking about his past.

Lydia brushed back a wayward strand of hair caught in the brisk breeze. “My mother didn't die. She left us, but I kept wondering for years what did I do to make her go away.”

“And?”

“Finally my dad sat me down and explained I didn't do anything wrong. She hated Alaska. Didn't want to be a wife and mother. For a while after that I was so angry with her for leaving. Then again Dad asked me why I was so angry. I told him, and he said to me as long as I hold on to the anger I'll never be totally free to enjoy life. I needed to forgive my mother.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. I have no idea where she is, but our family never moved. If she wanted to get hold of Kate and me, she knows where we are. Are you angry at your parents for dying?”

His arms slid away from her, and he stepped back. He wanted to say, no. But he couldn't. “My mother went looking for my dad. Why didn't she wait until the search was organized? She went out alone. She knew better.” He glanced to the colors in the sky morphing into a darker orange-red. “So, yes, I guess I have been. She left me with a neighbor and never looked back. That was the last time I saw her.”

“You know we both dealt with loss at a young age. Yours was more life changing than mine, but I still feel like I can relate to what you went through.”

She was right. Instead of pulling away from her, he should be drawing closer. She knew what he'd gone through. What was stopping him? He took a step toward her.

The loud sound of a large jet flying over them disrupted the moment.

He glanced around at the dusk beginning to settle over the area. “I guess life intrudes. We better head back. It's getting dark.”

She remained still, clasping his hand. “I know what you went through as a child. Remember that.” Then she gave him a peck on his cheek before starting for the parking lot.

He called Brutus and hooked his leash, then trailed after Lydia, unable to forget her words just now and her dad's advice about letting the anger go. He'd never told anyone he'd been mad at his mother for going out and looking for his dad alone. Lydia was entangling her life into his again, and the thought scared him.

* * *

Later that night another dream awakened Lydia, her face drenched in sweat. She knew what happened between Melinda and her boyfriend, Todd, at the bistro. She glanced at Kate sleeping and knew she wasn't going back to sleep for a while. She pulled on some comfortable clothes and crept from the bedroom to seek whoever was on guard. She didn't think she would forget the dream, but she didn't want to take a chance.

In the living room Jesse held a mug, probably with coffee in it, and peeked out the side of the blackout blinds. He looked toward her while Brutus remained asleep on the couch.

She chuckled. “He must not be too concerned about me being up.”

“He's been working hard lately. Why are you up? Something wrong?”

“No, but I remembered something from the bistro.”

Jesse turned from the window and closed the space between them. “What?”

“I remember the man Melinda was arguing with. It was for sure her boyfriend. They'd been dating for a month. She was at the end of the counter with him. When he stormed away from her, Melinda had an angry expression on her face.” Relief washed over Lydia now that she'd told another person.

“Where did he go?”

“I don't know. He walked past my table, but I was trying not to stare.”

“What did he look like? Can you give our sketch artist a description? Do you know his last name?”

“He had a black ball cap on with jeans and a blue T-shirt. Brown hair and gray eyes. He went right by me. I'd seen him one other time in the bistro a week before.”

“Do you remember anything on the cap? A logo? Something that might help us ID him?”

She shook her head. “No, I was focused on his furious look. I can give a description of him for a sketch. Melinda only referred to him as Todd. A few days earlier when I picked up some food for everyone at work, Melinda had just gotten off the phone with him. I tried to comfort her. They must have been having some problems.” Lydia thought back to that day. “The only thing she said was that maybe having a boyfriend wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. She didn't say anything else. The part I'm excited about is he had gray eyes. I keep seeing gray eyes. That's got to mean something.” At least she prayed it did.

“Yes. We'll dig into Melinda's personal life and see if we can discover who this boyfriend is.”

“I remember two guys with gray eyes. Maybe it was one of them.”

“We don't know a lot about the man you ran into when you came in. We know he got into a truck but mud covered the license plate. We have a couple of people searching the traffic cams around town to see if they can catch it.” His thumb caressed her face under her eye. “You need to go back to sleep.”