Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant (22)

Ryan wiped off the counter, hung up the rag, then glanced at his watch. School would be letting out shortly. Picking up his phone, he texted Leah. Are you going straight home?

“What’s in the pot? It smells good in here.”

He looked up when his mom strolled into the kitchen. “I made vegetarian chili.”

“Hmm, Leah must be converting you.”

When his phone dinged, Ryan glanced at the display. An unfamiliar number, so he let it go to voice mail. “Or, I just like making her happy.” When his cell chimed a second time, he smiled.

He unlocked his phone and tapped a response. Come to my mom’s. Veggie chili.

He set the phone back on the table then glanced over at his mom. “Leah’s coming here for dinner.”

“Excellent. I’m going outside to finish cutting back my roses.” She tapped her cast. “A slow job with one good arm.”

“I can help you.”

“No need. It’s a beautiful day, and I’ll enjoy the fresh air.”

“In that case, maybe I’ll walk Leah’s dog for her. Can you give the chili a stir every now and then?”

“Of course. Have a good time.”

After she left the room, he checked the unknown number on his cell and listened to the message.

Had the man uncovered new information already? Crossing his fingers, Ryan tapped his screen to respond. “Detective Stannard, this is Ryan Alexander returning your call.”

“Thanks for getting back to me. You said you have other copies of those photos?”

“We have three more similar to the ones I gave you, along with the negatives. Why?”

There was a pause before the detective cleared his throat. “Someone broke into my desk drawer last night and took the pictures you left.”

“You’re kidding?”

“I wish. Under the circumstances, I have to assume it was a fellow cop. Either that or someone on the janitorial staff who has access to my office. We’re investigating, but I wanted to make sure the other photos were someplace safe.”

“They are.” Ryan stared out the window over the kitchen sink as his mom appeared in the yard carrying gloves, a pair of clippers, and a flat basket. The folder with the photos was locked up in his Jeep. “An intruder may have been sneaking around Leah Grayson’s yard last night shortly before I got back. Possibly he was looking for a way into the house.”

“Was her property damaged?”

“Just a tipped-over planter. I must have scared him away when I pulled into the driveway. The timing was right.”

“Damn.” Stannard let out a harsh breath. “Do you want to bring those pictures down here so you won’t be a target?”

“Not really. I’m busy right now, and—”

“You don’t intend to turn them over to your local police force?”

Ryan scowled. “Not when you suspect a cop took the other two. I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”

“Point taken. I have commitments the rest of the day, but I’ll try to drive up to Siren Cove first thing tomorrow morning. I’m concerned about your safety while you have those photos in your possession.”

“I know you weren’t prowling around Leah’s house last night. Since I can’t say that about anyone else, I’m fine with handing them over to you.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

Ryan disconnected and shoved his phone in his pocket. At the rate he was going, he’d barely get to Leah’s place before she did. And the last thing he wanted was for her to walk into an empty house. Or worse, one that wasn’t empty at all.

* * *

Leah drove straight through town and left behind what little traffic there was as she headed down the empty stretch of road toward home. Despite the worry that had eaten at her all day, a smile formed. Maybe she and Ryan had plenty to work out between them, but he’d certainly been a rock when she needed one. That was reason enough to love the man.

A road construction vehicle parked along the edge of the highway pulled out behind her and accelerated with a roar of exhaust. Her brows shot up in surprise. Rock slides usually only happened during bad weather, and it hadn’t rained recently.

Her thoughts returned to Ryan. He cooked. Reason number two to be crazy about him. He also looked extremely hot lying against rumpled sheets first thing in the morning . . .

A blur of movement in her rearview mirror caught her attention just before a jolting impact sent her car careening across the road toward the cliff. Flung forward against the steering wheel, a scream wrenched from her throat as she struggled to correct the skid. A second hard slam pushed her into the guardrail with a shriek of metal on metal. Before she could react—or even think—the barrier gave way, and her car nosedived over the edge of the cliff. It pitched downward at a steep angle and smashed into a boulder at the base with a tremendous crunch.

At some point, her airbag had deployed. Leah coughed and choked as white dust settled over her. Her ears rang, and her head ached. Something damp ran down the side of her face. She lifted a shaking hand to touch her hair, winced, and stared at the blood on her fingers.

Her teeth chattered as she shoved against the door, but it only budged a few inches. When the passenger side opened a minute later, she nearly cried in relief. A fluorescent yellow vest filled her field of vision.

“Thank heavens. I’m stuck.” Her voice sounded wobbly, even to her own ears.

“Shit. You’re like the freaking Energizer Bunny. Nothing stops you. Where the fuck are those pictures?”

Leah cringed back against the seat. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t force words past the knot of fear lodged in her throat.

A hand in a leather work glove grabbed her purse off the floor on the passenger side and upended it onto the seat. Half the contents slid out of the car and clattered onto the rocks below. “They aren’t in here. Where the hell are they?”

“Leah!” The faint shout, along with deep barks, carried on the breeze from far down the beach.

The yellow vest disappeared, and boots smacked against the rocks. A running figure was just visible through the windshield, fractured like a giant spiderweb in front of her face.

Fighting off panic, she tried to shout out a response, but her voice broke. “Help. Help!”

Footsteps slapped the sand, growing closer. Whining sounded as nails scratched against rocks before a furry face thrust through the door opening.

“Barney.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m okay, baby.” She stroked his head as he licked her chin.

“Leah.” Breathing hard, Ryan pushed the dog away and crouched down to look in at her. “How badly are you hurt?”

“I don’t know. I cut my head, but it isn’t bleeding too horribly. My legs are jammed against the dash, but nothing hurts.” She shifted and winced. “Not much, anyway. My door won’t open.”

He reached over to release her seat belt. “Let’s see if I can pull you out.” His worried gaze met hers. “Can you feel everything? Both your legs will move?”

“Yeah. I’m just kind of wedged in.”

“Okay, then I’ll try a little gentle force.” He grasped her under the arms and tugged until she sprawled halfway across the passenger seat.

“I think my skirt’s caught.”

He took hold of the material and ripped. “There. I got it loose.” Holding tight around her middle, he pulled steadily.

Her legs slid out from under the steering wheel, and she landed on top of him. When they fell backward against a boulder, Barney danced and barked in a circle around them.

Ryan kissed her forehead and let out a shaky breath. “When your car smashed against the rocks like a squashed tin can, I nearly had a heart attack. Jesus, Leah.”

“You saw me go over the cliff?”

He nodded. “I’d just gotten to your house, and Barney was running around the yard, acting all hyper. I planned to take him for a quick walk and had just started down the trail to the beach when I heard a loud impact. I glanced up as your car broke through the guardrail.”

“It all happened so fast.” She pressed her face against his shoulder. “I didn’t have time to be frightened until it was over.”

In the distance, a siren wailed, growing louder.

She huddled closer to Ryan’s chest as his arms tightened around her. “Someone must have called nine-one-one.”

“I reported the accident while I was sprinting up the beach.”

“Did you see the man running away from my car?”

Ryan jerked back. “No! What the hell?”

She nodded. “A plow truck rammed me. Then the freak driving it climbed down to search for those pictures. He was shocked to find me still alive.”

“Who was he?” Ryan bit off each word. “Give me a name, and I’ll kill the bastard.”

“I don’t know.” Her words ended on a tearful sob. “I only saw the fluorescent vest he was wearing. Then you shouted, and he ran off. But I couldn’t make out any details through the shattered windshield.”

“I was focused on the trail when I yelled. I didn’t want to fall on my face. He must have stayed close to the base of the cliff to avoid being visible.”

The sirens suddenly cut off, and loud voices drifted on the breeze.

Ryan kissed her again, a gentle caress. “I’m just so damn thankful you survived that crash.” He shifted out from behind her. “Stay put while I go talk to the emergency responders, then we’ll get you out of here.”

The next two hours passed in a blur. The paramedics assessed her injuries and concluded she had a badly bruised knee and diaphragm, a gash at her hairline, and possible internal injuries. Once they hauled her up the cliff face in a sling, Leah agreed to go to the ER. After being subjected to a series of tests, the doctor in charge determined her spleen was bruised but not ruptured. The nurse cleaned and bandaged the cut at her temple and iced her knee. Pronounced fit to go home, she leaned back in the wheelchair as Ryan pushed her toward the exit.

“Leah, are you feeling up to giving me a statement now?” Chris Long stood near the sliding glass doors leading to the parking lot. “I wanted to question you earlier, but the staff refused to let me go back there while you were being examined. I know you’re probably exhausted and in pain, but I need your account of the incident.”

“Can we do this back at Leah’s house?” Ryan asked abruptly.

Chris gave her another quick once-over and must have decided she looked like crap. He gave a quick nod. “Fine. I’ll follow you there.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Leah reached up to pat Ryan’s hand. “Let’s go, but you’ll have to keep it under eighty since we’ll have a cop on our tail.”

The officer cracked a smile. “At least you can still joke. I’ll see you shortly.”

After Ryan helped her into his Jeep and returned the wheelchair, she settled carefully against the seat and forced her mind to go blank. For the length of time it took to drive home from the hospital, she didn’t want to think about . . . anything. Ryan seemed to understand. He kept quiet as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot onto the road. They’d gone a good five miles before she opened her eyes to stare out into the dark. The headlights slashed through the night, illuminating the winding road ahead.

“Thank you for being there for me through this. Odd, but that’s what I was thinking when that homicidal maniac slammed into my car. You’ve been a rock when I needed you.” She waved a hand toward the three stone monoliths in the cove, outlined in the moonlight. “As steadfast as one of the Sirens.”

“Hopefully I haven’t been the one drawing you closer to disaster. I don’t know why that asshole went after you instead of me. Why did he think you were the one who had the pictures?”

“Kind of makes sense.” Leah sighed. “I had the film originally, and you turned over two of the prints to the cops in Coos Bay.”

“So, he reasoned you were holding on to any remaining photos.” He slammed his hand down on the steering wheel. “Damn, I hate this.”

“Me, too.” Her head ached, and thinking was an effort. “What should we tell Chris Long?”

Ryan glanced over before returning his attention to the road. “A version of the truth, I guess.”

“And if his dad is involved? What if Chris is willing to do anything to conceal his father’s crime?”

“Then we’ll cover our asses and call the police chief ourselves. We’ll tell Long we want Chief Stackhouse to hear what happened straight from us.”

“Smart. Very smart.” Leah pulled her phone out of her purse, thankful she’d had the presence of mind to ask Ryan to collect all her belongings before she abandoned her car to the wrecker. “I have his personal number. I’ll call him right now.”

By the time they parked in her driveway, Chief Stackhouse had assured her he was on his way. She dropped her phone back in her bag and glanced over her shoulder as Chris Long pulled up behind them.

“Don’t move. I’ll help you inside.” Ryan opened his door. “I don’t want you putting any pressure on that knee.”

She nodded and waited as he hurried around to her side of the car. “Good thing I have a pair of crutches in one of the closets from when my grandpa had hip surgery a dozen years ago.”

“I’ll find them for you after the cops leave.” Ryan slid his arm around her waist and fended off Barney, who barked and jumped in excitement. “Do you have your keys?”

Leah sorted through her bag and handed them over before sliding off the seat. Leaning on him, she limped into the carport. Behind them, a door slammed and gravel crunched. She turned and forced a smile as the officer approached.

“I’ll be happy to have this over with. I gave Chief Stackhouse a call.” Her mouth strained to keep the smile in place. “I didn’t want to have to repeat the whole story again.”

The officer nodded and eyed the dog when Barney growled and stared out into the dark. “Good idea.”

Ryan unlocked the kitchen door, pushed it open, then reached inside to flip on the light. He took one step and stopped so fast, Leah smacked up against him.

“Holy hell.”

“What?” She peered around him and gasped.

“Someone trashed the place. Again.”