When Darkness Falls (23 page)

A pout formed on Chloe’s lips, even though she wasn’t nearly as upset about Beasty’s transfer of affection as she was when she first moved in with Darbie. “Fickle cat,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t listen to her, Beasty.”

The conversation lapsed into a comfortable silence until Darbie looked her in the eye. “I’m glad you’re going on this trip. It’ll be good for you and Hank to get away. He’s a good guy, and he’s good for you.”

The meaning of her words were clear—
You need to get away before you completely flip your lid
.

“Yeah, I’m glad too.”

D
arbie scowled
when they pulled into the parking lot of In-N-Out Burger. She liked burgers as much as the next person, but it was hardly where she wanted to be taken for a date.

“Is this okay with you?” Logan asked, giving her a sideways glance.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” she said curtly.

After they’d placed their orders, they sat down in a booth. Logan gave her a courtesy smile and then began drumming his fingers on the table like he couldn’t wait to leave. That left her, trying to figure out something to talk about. When he wasn’t blabbering on about a case in a lecture setting, he didn’t have much to say. Big disappointment! Professor McDreamy wasn’t so dreamy after all. He was a dud! It was going to be a long night. She suddenly wished she’d not been so quick to throw Steve under the bus.

“So, is this one of your favorite restaurants?”

“It’s okay,” he said casually.

Her eyes narrowed as she sat up taller in her seat. “So, is this where you take all of your dates?”

A look of surprise flickered over him. “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess this isn’t the greatest place to take a date. Would you like to go somewhere else?”

Yes, she wanted to go somewhere else!
She wanted to be swept off her feet—romanced! She wanted a Hank Singleton like Chloe had. That’s what she wanted, not some stiff-shirt that was acting like it was a chore to go out with her. “No, you’ve already paid for the food, we might as well eat it.”

“I’m sorry.” He gave her a placating smile. “I’m afraid I’m not much for dating, and it shows.”

This mollified her a little. Before she could think of a reply, their number was called, and he went to get their food.

They ate in silence, except for the couple of times when Darbie could think up some inane thing to say. Finally, she grew tired of trying. There was no point in making conversation. Hopefully, after this, he would take her home, and then she could forget all about this disastrous night. How could she have ever found this man attractive? Well, he was still attractive—to look at—she conceded, but he was a real bore! Certainly no Tommy Lee Jones!

When they got back to his car, he turned to her. “Would you like to go to a movie?”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think so.”

“Okay, would you like to get some ice cream?”

She had to fight to keep from laughing out loud. Was he for real? Surely he didn’t think the date was going well! “No, I’m kind of tired. Do you mind taking me home?”

A look of disappointment came over him, confusing her more than ever. When they reached her house, he pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine.

She reached for the door handle. “Well, thanks. I guess I’ll see you in class.” She was about to open the door when he caught her arm.

“Wait.”

“Yes?” Was this guy some kind of freak?

“You’re probably wondering why I asked you out.”

“Yeah, that thought did cross my mind, seeing as how you’ve hardly spoken two words the entire evening.”

“Yeah … sorry.” He rubbed his ear. “I told you I wasn’t good at dating.”

She shook her head. “Why did you ask me out?”

“It was your earrings.”

A furrow appeared between her brows. “My earrings.” She’d expected him to say something like—
I love your comments in class. You’re smart … pretty …
But her earrings? The nerve! Her face became as red as her hair, and she felt like she was going to blow. “What?” she blurted loud enough to be heard a street over.

“Before you go on a rampage, let me explain.”

“You’d better start talking … fast!”

“The earrings you were wearing the other day in class looked exactly like a pair that were stolen from a home in Park City a few months ago.”

She made a face. Not only was he boring but also a loon. “Are you talking about the theft at Dr. and Mrs. Clifton’s home? The Ghost Theft?”

He looked surprised. “You’ve been paying attention in class.”

It was the first tendril of real conversation they’d had all evening. “I always pay attention,” she said tartly. “Now what do my earrings have to do with that theft?”

“Mrs. Clifton had a unique jewelry set that was commissioned by a well-known artist in Morocco.”

“Yes, Salma Amini,” she said impatiently. “I know, you told us.”

This won her a genuine smile. “I can see I underestimated you.”

Her eyes blazed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“The earrings had red jewels at the top that were encrusted with bright white diamonds. A white pearl hung underneath.”

“And you thought I was wearing the earrings in question?” She had the urge to start laughing in his face.

“Yes,” he said with a deadpan expression.

She chuckled. “Well, that’s just about the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I have to admit—you almost had me for a minute.”

“Where did you get the earrings?” His expression was so serious that she felt goose bumps rise over her flesh. Was he crazy, or was there something to this?

“I told you—at the mall,” she said flippantly. “Dillard’s or Macy’s. Take your pick.”

His eyes hardened a fraction. “This is not some joke.”

She blew out a breath. This conversation was getting nuttier by the minute. She wanted nothing more than to end this silly date and go inside. “Okay, I borrowed them from my roommate. Her boyfriend—err—ex-boyfriend gave them to her.”

“What’s the boyfriend’s name?”

What was this—the Spanish Inquisition? Geez! “Garrett
something
.” She tried to remember his last name but couldn’t. “He works at Marsh Interiors.” Judging by the startled look on Logan’s face, she had the feeling that something significant was happening. “Oh, but Garrett recently passed away in a car accident,” she added.

“Was he by any chance related to Hank Singleton?”

“Yes, Garrett was Hank’s brother.”

He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Wow.”

“What’s going on here?” She didn’t like the feeling of being kept in the dark.

“Do you know who Hank Singleton is?”

“He owns Marsh Interiors. He’s a great guy … oh, and he’s dating my roommate. She’s crazy about him.” Then she realized that Logan had a strange expression on his face. “What else is there to know about Hank?” she asked, dreading the answer.

“Hank Singleton was the original Ghost Thief.”

She drew in a ragged breath. “What? No! That’s impossible!” How had she missed that little tidbit?

“Yes, it’s very possible … and true. I have a close friend—a detective—who believes that Hank is not the reformed thief he claims to be. Flores thinks he’s as guilty as sin.”

Darbie’s mind began to whirl. “But that means that Chloe!” She put her hands to her mouth. “My roommate went away with Hank! She could be in danger! I have to call her! Warn her!”

“Calm down. Hank Singleton is a jewel thief, not a murderer. I doubt your friend is in any danger.”

“But you don’t know that!” She felt like every word out of the man’s mouth was a hard slap in the face. All she could think about was that Chloe was in trouble!

“Everything I’m telling you is merely supposition at this point. We won’t know anything for sure … until I get a look at those earrings.”

She tried to process what he was saying—to put her education to work and assess the situation logically. “There must be some mistake—the Hank I know is no jewel thief. He runs a business.”

“Yes, he owns Marsh Interiors.” He looked her in the eye. “I can assure you that everything I’m telling you is true.” He put a hand over his heart. “I swear it!”

She tucked her hair behind her ears. There was only one way to know for sure that what he was saying was true, but that would involve inviting him in. She began chewing on the inside of her jaw as she mulled this over. Yes, he was dull, but he didn’t seem like a serial killer. The worst he could do was bore her to death. “Okay, let’s go have a look.”

Twenty minutes later, after completing an exhaustive search through Chloe’s jewelry box, Darbie turned to Logan. “They’re not here.”

He raked his hands through his hair. “What do you mean? How could they not be here?”

“Maybe Chloe took them with her on her trip.” She frowned. “Although it seems strange that she would take along a pair of earrings that Garrett gave her when she’s on a trip with his brother.”

“Unless Garrett wasn’t the one who gave them to her. Maybe it was Hank.”

“Are you saying that she lied to me?”

“I’m just trying to make sense of this … just like you are.”

She was getting tired of this guy and his insinuations. Chloe wouldn’t have lied to her about the earrings. What reason would she have for lying? Unless she was trying to protect Hank. “Well, there’s one sure fire way to find out. I’ll just call her right now and ask. How about that?”

His eyes went wide. “No, don’t do that.”

Wariness crept over her. “Why not?”

“Because if you tip her off, she’ll tell Hank, and he’ll get rid of the earrings. We’ll never know for sure.”

The whole thing seemed preposterous. “I’m trying to understand where you’re coming from, but I have to consider my roommate’s safety—first and foremost.”

“By all means—call and check on her. Just don’t mention anything about the earrings. Like I said before, I don’t think Hank is a danger to her.”

She arched an eyebrow. “You don’t
think
he’s a danger?” She let out a harsh laugh. “Sorry, but I’m not willing to risk my roommate’s safety for something you don’t
think
!”

“I know this is asking a lot, but I promise, your roommate will be fine. He’s not going to hurt her. Detective Flores has spent years trying to catch this guy. This could be the break we’ve been waiting for.”

She just stood there, glaring at him.

He touched her hand. “Please?”

“Fine,” she relented.

“Oh, one more thing—don’t let on to your roommate that you know Hank’s a jewel thief. That could also arouse suspicion.”

“So you’re saying I do nothing?”

“For now … only for now. When they return from their trip, we’ll see if she has the earrings.”

She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “You’re starting to press your luck, professor!”

D
espite the fact
that they were mourning Garrett’s death, it had been a glorious couple of days—some of the best of her life. Glory’s home faced the ocean, although it sat atop a hill and was a good football field’s length from the beach. “It’s because of the constant threat of high tides,” Hank explained. The lay of the land with its jagged cliffs that gave way to the expanse of the turquoise ocean reminded Chloe of pictures she’d seen of Ireland, although it wasn’t as green. There was something rugged and primitive about the land that made her feel free from the constraints of life—free to be herself … free to love.

They spent the first two days exploring the windy paths along the vistas and playing on the beach where they built sandcastles and searched for shells and driftwood. At night, they made a cozy bonfire on the beach where Hank roasted crab legs, fresh corn, and red potatoes that he purchased from a local market. Whereas Chloe had grown up in a rigid world that followed the rules to the letter, regardless of whether or not those rules had merit, Hank’s world was limitless with endless possibilities. He talked of teaching her to scuba dive and sail. Then he asked her if she’d ever been to Paris in the spring. “I would love to take you there. Of course, we would go and see the Eiffel Tower and all of the museums, but the simple pleasures are what I love the most—the open-air street markets, cafes, and pastry shops.”

She loved hearing the enthusiasm in his voice as he talked about Paris and all of the wonderful things they would do. The longer he talked, however, the more she started to suspect that his fixation with Paris was a way of avoiding dealing with Garrett’s death. He’d hardly mentioned Garrett the entire time they’d been gone, but then she would catch him staring off into the distance. And when he thought she wasn’t looking, she would catch glimpses of such a raw, naked pain in his eyes that it hurt to look at him. She understood—all too well. And she knew that he would only be able to avoid his grief for so long. It would come crashing around him hard, and he would have to eventually deal with it. But Hank was strong. He would get through it, and she would be there to help him. For now, it felt good to have a reprieve from the turmoil, and she was enjoying it as immensely as Hank.

It was their last evening at Bodega Bay, and they walked hand in hand on the beach, trying to soak in as much of the experience as they could. It was sunset, and the sky was streaked with orange and blue swirls. The steady roar of the crashing waves was therapeutic. The air had a briny taste, and the wind felt moist, reminding Chloe of home in South Carolina. Her pulse increased when Hank turned and looked into her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He was so breathtakingly handsome with his blue-green eyes and strong jaw that she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“Me too.”

Tenderly, he brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I’m not ready to go home. I wish we could stay here another week,” he said wistfully.

She smiled. “You say that, but judging from those frantic calls you keep getting from Yvette and Kate, I don’t think Marsh Interiors will last another week without you. Plus, I’ve got projects I need to take care of as well.”

“I know, the voice of reason.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “You’re right, of course.” He paused. “Chloe.”

The very timbre of his voice caused her heart to warm. The moment got deliciously slow. “I’m falling in love with you.”

Oh, how she loved hearing those words. It had been such a long time coming. Somehow, despite all of the heartache and turmoil they’d found each other. Her eyes misted. “I love you too.” She could’ve soared in that moment. A sense of gratitude flooded over her as she remembered how lost she’d been, and now she was here—in this beautiful place—with a wonderful, good man who loved her! Her mother would say that it was an answer to her prayers, and Chloe was beginning to think she might be right.

A deviant smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Who would’ve thought that first day you stumbled into my office—barefooted with torn stockings—that you would be the one?”

Her eyes sparked as she quickly rose to the bait. “Oh, yeah? Well, you don’t even want to know what I thought about you that first day we met.”

He chuckled. “I can only imagine.”

“Jerk and stiff-shirt are a couple of descriptions that come to mind.”

The corners of his mouth turned down. “Hey, now … I wasn’t that bad.”

“You certainly were. You hardly gave my portfolio a second glance and then practically threw me out of your office.”

He winced. “Was I that terrible?”

“Yes, you were.” Her voice grew soft. “But you’ve made up for it a hundred fold since.”

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “I guess I was a jerk. I had such high hopes from seeing your online portfolio that I didn’t know what to think when you came in—looking all ragged and dirty.”

“You were impressed with my portfolio?”

“Absolutely. Do you know how many applications we received for your position?”

“No.”

“A hundred and thirty-five. I conducted twenty phone interviews and then narrowed it down to five applications—of which you were one.”

Her eyes grew large. “I had no idea.” She let that sink in for a minute before continuing. “What was it about my portfolio that you liked?”

“Your diversity. I loved how you could switch between ultra modern and traditional, and yet the space still felt warm and inviting. That takes talent—rare talent.”

“Thank you.” The compliment sent a burst of pleasure, running over her.

“The truth is that I regretted sending you away like that. And when Garrett suggested that I bring you back in … well, I was secretly glad. He gave me the excuse I needed to redeem myself. If you’ll remember, I practically hired you on the spot.”

A smile curved her lips. “Yes, you did. I suppose we’ll always have Garrett to thank for bringing us together.” She regretted saying the words the instant they popped out of her mouth. “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard for you to talk about him.”

He nodded, his eyes growing troubled. “I want to talk about it, but I’m not sure how,” he admitted.

“When the time is right, you’ll know how.”

He cleared his throat, his Adam’s apple working up and down. “Being here with you—in this place that I love so much—it feels right. I can’t begin to tell you what it means to have you in my life.” His voice caught. “And at the same time, I’m so torn up inside. I still can’t believe he’s gone. When I think of going back, and how it will be without him …” Tears formed in his eyes, and he looked away, unable to continue.

She cupped his face. “You’ll get through it, and I’ll be here every step of the way.”

He gathered her in his arms. “That’s what keeps me sane,” he murmured. His lips came down on hers, and he kissed her until her blood turned to liquid fire that melted her bones. They clung to each other until her phone started buzzing.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Your mom again?” There was a playful edge to his voice.

“Hey, now. Don’t go bagging on my mom. She’s just worried that you’ll whisk me away to some remote location and take advantage of me.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he said, his voice going husky. She shook her head and laughed. Hank had been a perfect gentleman the entire time. They even had separate rooms. She’d made sure to keep repeating that part to her mother.

She retrieved her phone from her pocket and frowned. “It’s Darbie. I’d better get it.” Darbie had called twice already, but she’d missed her due to spotty cell service. “Hey.”

“Hey, how’s your trip?”

“It’s going well. How are things there? Is Beasty doing okay?” She felt a slight clutch as she waited for the answer. Unfortunately, due to her history, she was paranoid where tragedy was concerned—always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Beasty’s fine.”

“Oh, good.” Relief pulsed through her.

“Hey, you know those earrings that Garrett gave you?”

She tensed. “Yeah?”

“Do you mind if I borrow them?”

She frowned. Darbie never asked to borrow anything. “Yeah ... go ahead.”

“So, you don’t have them with you?”

Was it her imagination, or did Darbie sound anxious?

“No, of course not.” Did Darbie really think she would bring those with her on this trip? The last thing she wanted was a reminder that she’d dated Garrett.

“Well, they’re not here.”

“I didn’t bring them with me. They have to be there.”

Hank noticed the change in her voice and gave her a questioning look.

“And you’re positive you don’t have them with you?”

“No! I don’t! Darbie what’s going on?”

“Is Hank treating you okay? Are you safe?”

There was genuine concern in Darbie’s voice.

“Of course Hank’s treating me okay. And yes, I’m safe—perfectly safe.”

“Well, maybe you should make a point of going places where you’re surrounded by other people.”

Hank was studying her closely. She tried to discern what he was thinking, but his expression was guarded.

“What’s going on?” Tension crawled up Chloe’s neck.

“Oh, nothing. I’m just being paranoid. I’ll wait and talk to you about it when you get home. When do you get back? Tomorrow night?”

“Yeah … tomorrow night. But this can’t wait. If there’s something wrong, then I need to know now. You owe it to me to tell me … please.”

There was a long pause. Finally, Darbie let out a loud huff. “You’re right. Hang that stupid professor! So I went out on my date with Logan. As it turns out, he has absolutely zero interest in dating me.”

“I’m sorry.” Chloe stopped. “Wait a minute—if he didn’t have any interest in dating you then why did he ask you out?”

“Here’s where it gets freaky. He said he asked me out because of my earrings.”

“Your earrings?”

“Yeah, I was wearing the earrings that Garrett gave you. Logan seems to think that those earrings were part of a jewelry set that was stolen from a home in Park City. One of the Ghost Thefts.”

The blood drained from Chloe’s face. “What?”

“That’s what Logan said. Anyway, I tried to find the earrings, but they’re not here.”

“Are you sure?”

She let out a dry chuckle. “Believe me—I’m sure. I’ve turned this place upside down, looking for them. Anyway, it gets even weirder. Logan says that Hank is a reformed jewel thief. He’s been working with this detective—Flores—who believes that Hank’s still doing the thefts. I’m sorry, Chloe. I know this all sounds crazy, but I’ve been doing some research … and well … I hate to say it … but I believe he’s right. Chloe, are you there?”

Darbie’s words seemed to be coming from far away. Chloe’s mind whirled as she tried to make sense of what she was hearing. Hank touched her arm, his eyes radiating concern. All she could hear was her own blood pulsing in her ears. “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you.”

“I can hear you just fine. Chloe! We need to talk about this—”

“I’m going to have to call you back when we have a better connection.” Chloe ended the call. For a split second, it went through her mind that she was on a trip—alone with a man who had a dangerous past. Was he telling her the truth? Had he put his life of theft behind him? Then she remembered that Garrett was the one who’d given her the earrings, not Hank. Could Garrett be the thief? Her mind raced, trying to connect the dots. Garrett had gone on all of those real estate trips. He was a wild card. She looked at Hank and realized that he was speaking to her.

“What’s wrong?” he implored. “Why was Darbie asking about your safety?” His jaw was set in a firm, hard line as he searched her face.

She was rattled to the bone and knew it was written all over her face.

“This is about me, isn’t it?” There was a world of sadness in his words.

She nodded.

“Darbie found out about my past.”

“Yes.”

He rubbed a hand across his jaw, regret simmering in his eyes. “I knew it was bound to happen … eventually. I’m so sorry that you have to live with my stigma. No matter what I do, I can never escape it. What’s going to happen when your mom finds out? She’s worried about you going off with me as it is. What will she think when she learns the truth?” He rubbed his neck, a tortured look in his eyes. “I can’t put you through this. This is never going to work.”

“Stop it!” she demanded, giving him a hard look. “You’re not putting me through anything. It’s my choice to be here—with you. And yes, my mother will most likely blow a pipe when she realizes who you are, but we’ll deal with that when it comes. I’m not worried about my mother right now. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think we’d better sit down.”

Caution settled into his eyes as he nodded. They found a comfortable spot on the sand. Chloe turned to Hank, hating that she had to tell him this—hating what it would do to him. But there was no other option.

“Whatever it is—you can tell me.” He took her hands in his.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Garrett gave me a pair of earrings. An expensive pair of earrings, which are very distinctive. They have these red jewels at the top that are encircled with bright diamonds. Large, milky-white pearls hang underneath. Anyway, Darbie wore them to class, and her professor recognized them as being part of a set that was stolen from a doctor’s wife in Park City.”

Hank’s face went a shade darker, and he swore under his breath.

“Is it possible … um … have you ever considered that it might’ve been Garrett who was the thief?” It was about that time that she realized that Hank didn’t look surprised by anything she was telling him. He was frustrated and mad, but not surprised. “How long have you known?”

“I’ve suspected it for some time.”

“I’m sorry.”

He nodded.

She thought of something. “But you didn’t say anything to Detective Flores. With a single word you could’ve removed yourself from suspicion.”

“And implicate my brother?”

“I see.”

A haunted look came over him. “Do you think I’m a terrible person for not coming forward?”

“No, I think you were doing what any good brother would do under the circumstance.” The conversation lapsed into silence. “I’m afraid there’s more.” She winced at the pain emanating from his eyes and felt a burst of anger over the entire situation. It wasn’t enough for him to have to deal with Garrett’s death. Now he had to also deal with the fact that Garrett had become the very thing he’d been trying to distance himself from. The whole thing reminded her of Dan and how she’d had to deal with the double whammy of his death and betrayal.