Promise Her (21 page)

“Do you remember anything else?” Douglas asked.

“Nope. Never saw them again.”

They thanked him and left.

“If they looked alike, my theory holds up. Storm pretended to be her sister to get her hands on the trust money.”

“It’s a likely scenario,” Douglas agreed. “But where is she now?”

They hit every house on the street and the two surrounding ones. Only one other person had lived there long enough to remember the Colliers. Even she didn’t remember anything other than the cute little twin girls their mother took for a walk every day.

When they were back in the SUV, Douglas turned to Lisa. “How are you holding up? Should we get you home to rest?”

She shook her head. “Let’s go to the house they bought after this one. The girls were older. Maybe we’ll find out more.”

They picked up Ev and went to the next address. This neighborhood, though nicer and better kept, garnered them a little more information. Storm, according to Mrs. Garrison who lived across the street, had been a handful. Storm skipped school, ran with older boys, and was into drugs. Her parents couldn’t control her. Tempest, on the other hand, was an angel. She excelled in school, and since she loved horses, her parents gave her riding lessons.

Did they look alike?

Mrs. Garrison thought they might, though they dressed different. She admitted she only saw them from a distance. She did remember what happened at their sixteenth birthday party. They were both allowed to ask their friends. Tempest’s friends were from school, a few from the riding academy. Storm’s friends looked as if they came off the city’s streets. The boys were older and kept asking for beer. Mr. Collier kicked them out. Storm was so angry she left with them.

“How soon after this happened did she run away?”

“She ran away often you know. Shortly after the party the Colliers couldn’t find her. I understand they hired a PI to look for her. I guess he couldn’t find her either, because I never saw her again. A year or so later, Mr. Collier sold that invention of his and they moved to the swanky part of town. I think it was the Memorial area. I haven’t heard from them since.”

There were few other residents at home. Those who were hadn’t been there when the Colliers lived here.

Lisa sighed as she climbed into the back seat.

“Other than the birthday party that triggered Storm’s disappearance, we learned nothing,” Ev complained. "Knew there was a reason I don't do investigations."

“They probably looked alike. We know that now,” Lisa reminded him.

“One more neighborhood to check out,” Douglas said. “Do you want to put it off until tomorrow?”

Lisa looked at her watch. It wasn’t noon yet. “Let’s finish today.” She wanted to check on Sugarplum and attend tonight’s performance. Perhaps she would see the blonde again. Or get the opportunity to speak to Harold.

Douglas started the motor.

The Memorial neighborhood yielded no new information. Those who were home were aware the Colliers had lived in the neighborhood, but knew nothing about them. Evidently, they kept to themselves. Did they know Tempest? No. Did they ever see her? Not much. She was in college and came only rarely.

An hour later, they met at the SUV to compare notes. Nothing. Except they did know when the parents were killed, Tempest came home from college long enough to have a funeral and put their house on the market before going back to school. No one saw her again.

“We didn’t learn a whole lot, did we?” Ev asked.

“I don’t know. We verified the information we have on Storm. That’s a plus,” Lisa said. “Now all we have to do is find her.”

“How about some food?” Ev suggested. “My bagel is gone.”

“How about it, Douglas? Hungry?”

“Not really,” he growled. “But I think there’s a deli around here somewhere.”

She opened her laptop. Bernie had answered her e-mail.
Did another search on the twin, came up with nothing new. Could she have changed her name?

That was something to think about. “Would it be hard to change your name?” Lisa asked Douglas.

“Why?” he asked.

“Storm did. That’s how she can move around now and why the cops can’t find her.”

“Good thinking,” Ev said with a grin.

Douglas scowled. “She probably dyed her hair, had some plastic surgery done. Heck it wouldn’t be hard to pass herself off as someone else.”

“That’ll make her hard to find,” Ev offered.

“We’ll find her,” Lisa said with conviction.

“How can you be so sure?” Ev asked.

Douglas kept his eyes on the road. Every so often he glanced in his rearview mirror at her. Every time, her wayward heart took a leap. “Because I think I know who she is.”

With careful control, Douglas found a deli in the next block and pulled in. Once they had sandwiches and drinks, he ventured the question once more. “Who is she?”

“I could be wrong. But remember the blonde we can’t seem to make contact with? The one we’ve seen with Harold several times? I think it’s her. It makes sense. She has to be around here somewhere, the closer the better. How else could she access her sister’s trust? Besides, if you think about it, she’s the same body type as Tempest.”

Evan had eaten his sandwich and was looking at Lisa’s. “Would you like half my sandwich, Ev? I’m not that hungry.”

“If you’re sure,” he said, grabbing it off her plate before she could change her mind.

Douglas took a bite of his own sandwich. It would be a cold day in hell before that garbage disposal ate his food.

“It shouldn’t be too hard to find her. She’s at the rodeo every night. I’ll confront her head-on at the rodeo tonight and see if she’ll answer a few questions.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Douglas asked. The woman was demented.

“I have to admit,” she said, looking him in the eye. “It won’t be easy. If she’s guilty of anything, she wants to keep her identity hidden. Why do you think she runs when she sees us? Why she changed her name?”

“She isn’t running from Harold,” Douglas reminded her.

“Why would she? Either he’s in it with her or he doesn’t know who she is.”

“How could he not know?” Evan asked. “If she looks like her twin wouldn’t he be aware of the similarity and question it?”

“Not necessarily,” Lisa explained. “Her hair color is different from Tempest's. If she’s had even the least bit of reconstructive surgery, it could change her facial features so he wouldn’t know who she is. She’s changed her name and lastly, he may not even know of a twin. Why would he question her identity?”

Douglas took the last bite of sandwich, washed it down with his drink. It settled in his gut like a brick. “You’re reasoning makes sense.” Until now, he'd had no idea how Lisa’s analytical mind worked a problem. But what she’d reasoned out sounded plausible. “How do you propose to find her?”

“Like I said, she’ll be at the rodeo tonight. Once we see her, we’ll find a way to keep her from running so we can confront her. You want the rest of my chips, Ev?”

“You make it sound easy,” Evan said, helping himself.

“It won’t be. She’s doing her best to keep me from seeing her face or from talking to me.”

Douglas held onto his composure with steely determination.

Lisa didn’t offer him her chips—didn’t offer him anything. Not even the conversation he wanted to have.

He ran a hand through his hair and settled his Stetson on his head. “I’ll be in the SUV when you’re finished.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“Do you mind swinging by the stables?” Lisa asked when they were back in the SUV. “They’re not that far away and I’d like to check on Sugarplum.”

“I wondered how long it would take you to ask.”

“I’ve called Jonah every day to check on her, but it isn’t the same as seeing her for myself.”

“You’re not planning to ride are you?”

“No, Douglas. I’ll wait until next week.” She paused a minute. “Then I can concentrate on Patty’s lessons. I had to take a break while I practiced for the barrel racing competition. Since that’s over I can go back to teaching Patty.”

“You’re giving Patty riding lessons?”

“I am. Not only does she love it, she’s a natural. The SPCA has their eye out for a horse we can adopt so we can ride together. You’ve read the horror stories about how people are letting their horses starve and abandoning them because they can’t afford to feed them, haven’t you?”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I have. But horses are a pretty expensive upkeep; stable fees, feed.”

“My salary is generous. It’s a small thing to do for someone I care about.”

“Who is Patty?” Evan asked.

“My Little Sister…from the program.”

“She’s cute; wants to be an adult, acts like a kid,” Douglas added.

“She is a kid. One who needs a chance. I’m trying to give her one.”

“You’re spoiling her.”

“She’s a good kid. You have to look past the surface, Douglas. Things are not always what they seem at first glance. I want Patty to be the best she can be. Not everyone has that opportunity. But I can do what I can for Patty. The results will be worth a lot more than the price.” They pulled up to the stable. “I won’t be long.”

“I’m coming with you,” Evan said. “I can't protect you from the car."

Douglas was already out and had caught up with her. “I know how you feel about Patty. I was only teasing. She’s a sweet kid.”

“She’s a typical teen caught up in a different lifestyle than you or I knew when we were growing up. Kids like her need a little boost.”

“You’re right.” As usual, he thought. She was the only woman he knew who had such a good heart. Had he seen this before? Surely he had. He wasn’t blind. He looked at her again, at the anticipation in her eyes at seeing Sugarplum for the first time since her accident. He saw that same gleam in those gorgeous eyes when she defended her Little Sister. Despite her near fatal fall, she had the strength to do everything she set her mind to, including looking for a murderer.

His heart dipped. Lisa had gotten under his skin more than he thought. Was it because they’d been thrown together in unusual circumstances? She’d been around and part of the family for so long he’d taken her presence for granted. Being at every family event, of course he’d noticed her. She was too pretty not to. But had he paid close attention? No. She was TJ’s best friend and that was that.

This was different. That kiss was different. Dammit, he wanted to kiss her again.

He watched her as she spotted a man moving from one stall to another with a bucket of feed. When she smiled, his heart did that dip again. Instead of making him nervous, it made him curious.

“Wait up, Jonah.”

“Hey, Lisa. How in the world are you?”

Jonah put down his bucket and came toward them with a big grin on his face. He wasn’t old, probably in his fifties. Wasn’t very tall either, five-five maybe. His face and arms were bronze from the sun. His dark eyes danced with pleasure.

Lisa had that affect on people. Men especially. He cast a sidelong glance at Evan, who watched the approaching man carefully.

When he reached them, he gave her a hug. Douglas willed himself to smile.

“I’m fine. Thanks. How’s Sugarplum?”

“Your girl is great. Lonesome maybe, but she’s good.”

“She wasn’t hurt?”

“What? A dozen phone calls didn’t convince you she’s good to go? Come. See for yourself.”

He led them to the third stall from the end. Sugarplum whinnied when she saw Lisa.

Lisa laughed. “Did you miss me?” she purred. “I missed you.”

All the while she was talking; she was stroking and petting. Sugarplum lifted her head, nibbled at the hand Lisa held to her face. Lisa kissed the horse’s head, opened the stall door and went inside. “Let’s check you out.” She ran her hands down Sugarplum’s sides and back. Then down her legs. “You really are okay, aren’t you?”

“She is.” Jonah smiled. “I’ve taken good care of her.”

“How can I thank you?”

“It’s part of my job, remember?”

Lisa smiled. “I know you give Sugarplum extra attention.”

“Does anyone come around here who shouldn’t?” Douglas asked.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re trying to find out who cut my cinch,” Lisa explained. “By the way, my manners are terrible. This is Douglas Callahan and Evan Drury. They’re the good guys. And this is Jonah. He’s been here for years. The horses are like his babies.”

Jonah chuckled.

It took Lisa thirty minutes to convince herself Sugarplum was fine before she would leave. Douglas understood, but he was antsy to get back to the house. His house.

“We’re going home, Lisa. You need to rest.”

“Okay.”

She settled into the back seat again. “Are you coming with Ev and me tonight?”

Douglas ground his teeth, took a silent breath. “Yes.” They couldn’t keep him away if they tried.

They came to the 610 loop. To the left was his house, the right her apartment. He was in the left lane. “Take me to my apartment, Douglas.”

“This is ridiculous. You shouldn’t be by yourself.”

“I’m not. Ev is with me.”

"Listen, guys—"

"No," Lisa interjected. "Max hired you and it's turned out to be a good idea. You'll stay."

Cursing to himself, Douglas managed to get into the right hand lane.

How would he get her alone with that hundred and eighty pounds of muscle in the way? They needed to talk. He glanced in the rearview mirror, saw her hunched over her laptop. It didn’t seem to bother her in the least that they’d shared a kiss last night that knocked his socks off.

Douglas didn’t know if he was angry or just agitated and impatient, but he ground his teeth at the situation.

He’d never had this problem before with any woman.

Douglas pulled into Lisa’s apartment complex, then went around to help her out, but Evan was there, his hand on her arm.

Walking to the door, he seethed as the two of them chatted. What was wrong with him? He’d never been jealous in his entire life. He had flirted with the opposite sex since puberty, had drawn them close like ducks to water. It never lasted. After a while he sent them away without a second thought. But right now he would give anything to change places with Evan Drury.