The Unrelenting Tide (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans - Christian Romantic Suspense) (14 page)

It wasn’t until Thursday that she remembered she would need a baby sitter – somehow she didn’t think Randy’s invitation had included her four-year-old daughter. But to her dismay everyone she called had plans for the following night.

Jackie and Lamar were her last hope. She dialed their number.

“Hello, this is Jackie.”

“Jackie, hi, it’s Devynne.”

“Hi, Honey. How are you?” Devynne could hear motherly affection in her tone and realized she would always be like a daughter to the Lang’s.

“Fine. Listen, I’m looking for a baby sitter for tomorrow night. Are you busy?”

“Oh, Honey, I’m afraid we are. Lamar has a conference he must attend and it’s out of town. I’m packing as we speak. We plan to take our time coming home and probably won’t be back until Monday or Tuesday.”

“Oh. Well, that’s fine. I’m glad you two get to have some time to yourselves. Enjoy your trip. Where are you headed?”

“His conference is in Seattle, but we plan to travel up to Leavenworth on our way home.”

“That’s nice. I hear Leavenworth is beautiful this time of year. Well, you have fun and I’ll talk to you when you get back.”

“Alright, dear.” She hurried on, before Devynne could disconnect. “Devynne?”

“Yes?”

“Did you try, Carcen? I know for a fact that he doesn’t have plans for tomorrow. In fact I just talked to him and he said that he was planning on coming over and spending some time with Marissa tomorrow, so I’m sure he could do it.”

“Really? Thanks. I’ll give him a call.”

She set the phone back in its cradle with a sigh, frustrated by the fact that she suddenly wished she didn’t have plans for the following evening. The thought of simply staying at home and spending time with Carcen and Marissa was tempting, indeed.

She paced the room, mentally giving herself a shake. Those kinds of feelings were the exact reason she had agreed to go out with Randy. She couldn’t afford to fall for Carcen. Still, the thought of even talking to him sent her pulses racing. She left the phone in the cradle.

By the next morning she was chastising herself for her emotional weakness. All she had to do was talk to him on the phone for goodness sake. And at this rate, Randy was going to show up and she wouldn’t have anyone to watch Marissa. She dialed his number with new determination.

“Friday Harbor, police department.”

“Yes. May I please speak to Sheriff Lang?”

“Hold on.”

The sounds emanating from the other end of the line muted as the officer who had answered apparently put his hand over the mouthpiece. Then she heard a muffled, “Lang, it’s for you. Line one.”

“Hello?” Carcen’s deep baritone rumbled in her ear.

Devynne’s heart began to beat like a bass drum and she took a gulp of air.

“Hello?” he said again.

“Carcen?”

“Devynne, is that you?”

“Yeah.”

“Everything okay?” Alarm tinged his tone.

“Yes. Yes, fine.”

“Good. Hey.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “It’s nice to hear from you. I’ve been thinking about you.”

“You have?” The question was out before she thought better of it.

“Yeah. I was going to come see you guys tonight. Will you be home?”

Devynne swallowed. “Actually that’s why I’m calling. I wondered if you could babysit for me tonight?”

There was a slight pause and then he answered, “Sure, I don’t see why not. Have big plans?”

She pinched the bridge of her nose wondering what she should tell him. “Not big plans really. Just Randy. He called and asked me to dinner and a movie.”

“Randy, huh?” Was that irritation she heard in his voice? “What time do you need me to be there?”

“Well, he said he’d pick me up about six, so anytime just before that would be fine.”

“Alright. You have plans for Saturday?”

She frowned. “No.”

“Good. See you tonight then.”

Carcen set the receiver down and glowered at the phone; considered hucking it across the room, but seeing as how Donny was eyeing him through the glass, decided that probably wasn’t the best choice.

He turned his attention back to Stephan Abernathy’s file. He thought he’d been grumpy
before
Devynne called to say she was going out with Randy tonight.

He glanced up at the pin-dotted maps spread on one of the bulletin boards to his right. Black dots now represented Stephan Abernathy’s maneuverings over the past several years. Several black dots and green dots rested side by side in California.

On the same day Devynne and her sister had found the package labeled “bomb” on their porch, the boy had gotten a speeding ticket ten blocks from their house. He’d gotten another ticket just outside of Universal Studios which didn’t prove much of anything since Carcen couldn’t pinpoint exactly where Devynne had been that day. But, just a week after it was announced that Shania Hane had been killed in a plane crash, Abernathy had been arrested on a possession charge at the Down on Your Luck bar. The case had been dropped two days later and he’d never gone back to the community college he’d been attending. After that, Stephan’s shenanigans in California went cold but started up again in Washington just a few days later. He’d been booted from a couple casinos. Spent the night in the Everett city jail on drunk-and-disorderly allegations which, again, had been dropped within the week, and been assigned community service for a variety of infractions – none serious enough to send him to jail.

Carcen sighed and slapped the folder shut. He stood, rested his hands on his hips and studied the three images on the bulletin boards.

Devynne. Robert Dawson. And now Stephan Abernathy.

He’d spent the better part of the week following leads and verifying the timelines before him. And now he was beginning to have his doubts about Dawson. And his suspicions about Stephan were rising.

He glanced at his watch. He was supposed to have heard from Niemeyer today. But Randy was due to pick Devynne up in a little less than half an hour. If she hadn’t called him within a couple hours he’d call her from Devynne’s place.

Shrugging into his jacket, he grabbed up his phone and dialed Boyd who’d already left for the night.

“Hey, boss. What’s up?”

“Boyd, listen,” he searched his desk for his keys, “first thing in the morning I need another interview with our newest resident.”

“Before the big game?”

He closed his eyes. He’d momentarily forgotten about the benefit game set for tomorrow. This year the big game would take place out in the historic town of Roche Harbor on the other side of the island. “Yeah. This is important. Sorry to make you come in on your day off.”

“Well, I’m sure I’ll find a way for you to make it up to me.”

Carcen grunted. “Just have him ready in the morning. Eight A.M. sharp.”

“Yes, boss.” There was still a note of teasing in Boyd’s voice.

He pushed the off button and then scrolled to his phone book and pressed Randy’s name. He stacked the files into a pile, and tossed the power-bar wrappers into the garbage can.

“Randy Wiseman, CPA.” The cheerfulness in Randy’s tone set his teeth on edge.

“Hey Randy. Carcen.” He locked the files away in his desk drawer and shoved his keys into his pocket.

“Carcen! Hey! You calling to give me the big brother talk?” He laughed.

Carcen ground his teeth but did his best to sound like he was chuckling along with his friend. “I know you’ll take good care of her. Listen. There is something serious I’m calling about, though.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, you know Devynne had a break-in the other night. You asked me about the arrest, and I told you we’d gotten a guy, remember?” Carcen strode toward his office door.

“Sure do.”

“Well… Some information has come to light. I…just…watch out for her tonight, okay? I’m not one-hundred-percent sure we have the only guy who attacked her behind bars. And I… need to know that you’ll be keeping your eye out.”

“Whoa! That’s scary stuff. But no problem. I’ll give you a call if anything fishy comes up. And hey, thanks man, for letting me wrangle myself an introduction on Sunday morning. I haven’t been this excited about a date in a long time.”

“Yeah, man. No worries. Have a good time tonight.” He wanted Dev to be happy, didn’t he? Even if that meant she found it with someone else?

He hung up the phone before, “Just not too good of a time,” could pop out, then strode into the main room. One more talk to have.

Donny was just locking up his desk. “Hey, boss.”

“Donny, listen, I need you on the clock tonight.”

“Aw, Lang! I was gonna catch a nice dinner and enjoy oysters on my back deck.”

“Sorry. Eat a nice dinner wherever Randy Wiseman takes Devynne Lang tonight and we’ll pick up the tab.”

Donny sighed. “Whatever you say, boss.”

“You’re a good man, Donny.” Carcen clapped him on the shoulder and let him out the precinct door ahead of him. He punched in the alarm code, then rubbed one hand over his head and ruffled his hair.

“Everything okay?” Donny dropped a duffle bag into the trunk of his sedan.

Carcen squeezed the muscles at the base of his neck. “Just keep her safe and keep me informed.” He climbed into his truck, backed out of his parking space, and pulled onto the street.

It might take every resource he had, but he was determined to keep Devynne safe.

Friday evening was clear and breezy and Devynne had just started upstairs to touch up her makeup and change her clothes when the phone rang.

“Hi, Devynne. This is Honey.”

“Hi, Honey. How are you?” Honey Smyth was her next door neighbor.

“Good. Listen, I’m calling for two reasons. I’m going on vacation to Hawaii tomorrow morning. Could you stop over a couple times and water the plants on my deck?”

“Sure.”

“Great. I’ll be back the Friday after next.”

Devynne teased, “Got any room in your suitcase?”

Honey chuckled. “I’d totally bring you if I could, friend. I’m so excited. I’m staying at this resort that is supposed to be fabulous! I can’t wait to soak in some sun!”

“Sounds like a blast. I hope you have a wonderful time.” Devynne didn’t want to rush her but Honey could talk for eons and she’d be late if she let that happen so she prodded, “What was the second reason?”

“I have a dinner guest coming and I’m plum out of sugar for the dessert I’m making. Could I beg a cup from you?”

“Sure. Come on down. I’ll be upstairs. I’m a little late getting ready for a dinner date, myself. But just ring the bell and I’ll come right down and get it for you.”

“You have a date?”

“Nothing spectacular. Just a friend.”

“Yeah, me too. A guy from work asked me out and I got the bright idea of having him over for dinner before I left for this couple weeks. Nice guy but nothing spectacular.”

Devynne chuckled. “Sounds like we’ve both gotten ourselves into something we’re not looking forward to.”

“Hey, we’ve got to look on the bright side. By this time tomorrow it will all be over with.” They shared a laugh. “Well, have fun. I’ll be down in just a jiffy to grab the sugar. And thanks.”

Devynne smiled. “No problem. If I remember right, I owe you a couple of cups anyway.”

Honey chuckled. “Who’s counting?”