Chapter Twenty-three
“Where, exactly, are the rest of the photos now?”
Ryan gripped Leah’s hand as he faced the police chief across the coffee table and lied through his teeth. “That’s the thing. There aren’t any more pictures. The film was damp, and most of the roll was unsalvageable. I gave the only two prints I was able to recover to Detective Stannard.”
Officer Long glanced up from his notepad. “And the negatives?”
“I had them in a folder open on the counter, and I’m afraid I splashed coffee on them. I chucked the ruined negatives in the trash before I took the prints to Stannard. Otherwise, I would have given those to him, too.”
Stackhouse glanced from Ryan to Leah and back. “Now, why is it you drove all the way down to Coos Bay to turn over those photographs when you could just as easily have given them to Chris here, or to me?” The chief hunched forward and planted his elbows on his knees. “Am I missing a piece of the puzzle?”
“Curiosity.” Leah gave a nervous laugh. “And you know what they say about curiosity killing the cat. I think I used up one of my nine lives today.”
Stackhouse frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Ryan jumped in before Leah could speak. “My mom told me about the detectives who questioned Mrs. Winston, our school principal, back when we buried the time capsule. I got to wondering about that, since those photos were so strange.”
“You said the pictures showed men in hooded cloaks around a bonfire.” Chris Long frowned. “Sounds like a Halloween party to me.”
Ryan squeezed Leah’s fingers so hard she winced. “Except there was a naked woman stretched out in the center of the ring.”
The clock over the mantel ticked loudly in the ensuing silence.
“Jesus,” the younger cop said softly.
“As I said, strange and . . . disturbing.” Ryan let out a breath and relaxed his grip on Leah’s hand. “Our curiosity was roused, so I talked to Mrs. Winston. She mentioned the hitchhiker who’d vanished that October, the girl she’d passed, out on the highway. I couldn’t help wondering if there was any connection between her disappearance and the photos on the film buried in the time capsule. I figured taking the pictures to the original detective in charge of the case was the right move.”
“Except the pictures were stolen out of his possession.” Stackhouse grunted. “I would have been more careful with evidence.”
“Honestly, at this point, I couldn’t care less. They’re gone for good.” Tears thickened Leah’s voice. “I just wish whoever wants the damned things knew we don’t have them anymore so he’d stop trying to kill me.”
Officer Long glanced at his superior. “Chief, maybe we can try to spread the word. I don’t like the idea that someone might come after either Leah or Ryan again.”
“That might work. This is a small community. If all my men drop a casual comment here and there around town, the news will spread faster than fleas on a hound.” His lips curled as he gazed at Barney, scratching furiously behind one ear. “My guess is you’ll be safe enough in short order.” His attention returned to Leah. “You’re certain you aren’t able to identify the man who ran you off the road?”
“He was probably of average height and weight. He wore jeans with a fluorescent yellow vest over a dark shirt, and gloves. That’s all I saw.”
“What about his voice?” Long held his pen poised over the notebook. “He spoke to you, so possibly you noticed something distinctive.”
“He was yelling. Swearing. I was so scared I didn’t pay much attention to his diction.” She closed her eyes. “No odd accent, I’m certain of that. People sound different when they shout—high and whiny—and he only said a few words. I don’t know if I’d be able to identify him if he spoke in a normal tone, but I’d certainly be willing to try.”
The officer closed his notebook and slipped it into his pocket. “If you remember anything else, call us.”
Stackhouse rose to his feet and smiled at Leah. “We’ll need to process your home for evidence. At least the perp didn’t make as big of a mess this time. I assume you have someplace you can go for the night?”
“My mom’s house.” Ryan released her hand and stood. “I’ll go get Leah a change of clothes and a pair of crutches, if that’s okay, and then we’ll get out of your way.”
“I’ll come with you.” Chris Long followed him from the room and up the stairs.
Ryan found the crutches in a closet in one of the spare bedrooms, then efficiently loaded an overnight bag with the bare essentials. At least he hoped he’d gotten everything Leah would need. Officer Long leaned against the doorframe while he packed. To make sure I don’t sneak the missing photos into the bag along with her clean underwear? He had no idea if the two cops had believed his lies, but he sure as hell hoped so.
“That should do it.” He shut the dresser drawer and lifted the crutches off the bed.
Long straightened. “Great. We’ll do our best to keep the mess to a minimum when we dust for prints, but it has to be done. Hopefully the perp screwed up this time and left evidence.”
“The guy seems pretty damned cautious. I’m surprised he spoke in Leah’s presence.”
“Could be he wasn’t planning to leave her there alive, but you screwed up his plans.”
A chill blasted through Ryan as he snapped off the bedroom light and headed downstairs with the cop following him. “You mentioned earlier this freak just walked onto the lot where the road crews leave their vehicles and drove off in one of them?”
“Yes. A few of the men we questioned admitted to leaving the keys in the ignition of the trucks since the gates are locked after hours.”
Ryan stopped at the foot of the stairs. “But this SOB swiped the plow truck before they closed the gates and probably wore the vest so a casual observer wouldn’t see anything unusual.”
“Pretty damned smart,” Long agreed. “They’re easier to catch when they’re stupid.”
“I imagine. You’ll contact us if there’s any news?”
“Of course.”
As the cop turned toward the kitchen, Ryan hurried into the living room. Approaching the couch, he held out the crutches to Leah. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” She rose with a slight wince to take them from him, then glanced over at the chief. “Unless you need anything else?”
“Not right now.” He patted her arm. “I’m sorry you were hurt, but after a crash like that, I’d say you were pretty fortunate it wasn’t a whole lot worse.”
“I guess so, but I certainly don’t feel lucky. Thanks for coming out to personally supervise my case. I appreciate it.”
“You bet. Take care, Leah.”
Ryan nodded as he passed. With a moan, Barney surged to his feet and followed them out of the house into the chilly night air.
“All I want is to wake up in the morning to discover this whole day was nothing but a nightmare.” She leaned against the Jeep, head hanging, as he unlocked the door.
“We’ll deal with all the complications.” He raised her chin with a gentle hand and dropped a kiss on her lips. “Together.” After Barney jumped into the back, Ryan stowed the crutches before helping Leah onto the passenger seat. “I know it sucks. The last time I felt like my life was this out of control was when Jay stole Intersect out from under me.”
She glanced over and smiled. “I guess that didn’t turn out so badly.”
“No, and we’ll get through this ordeal, too.”
“One can only hope.”
* * *
“You know I can’t simply run away from all my problems, right?” Leah rolled down the window and breathed in the scent of pine as they bumped down the narrow road. “Not that I wouldn’t like to.”
“We’re simply putting them on hold for the weekend. No harm in that.”
Ryan drove into a small clearing and parked in front of an adorable cabin that reminded Leah of a fairy-tale cottage. In the distance, the Three Sisters towered over the forest of evergreens that backed up to Ryan’s property.
“I love your home.” She opened the door, then grunted when Barney jumped across the center console onto her lap before leaping to freedom. “Do you have seven dwarves stashed somewhere?”
“Funny.” Ryan climbed out and lifted the cat carrier from the back seat. “My house is small but functional. Charlie and I don’t need a lot of room.”
“I don’t know about that. Charlie’s presence is immeasurable, despite his physical size. Barney is terrified of him.”
“Your dog’s a big chicken.” Ryan released the latch on the gated front of the container and lifted his cat to the ground. Charlie strolled toward the cabin, tail twitching as Barney backed cautiously away.
“Apparently, Barney knows who’s boss.”
Ryan circled the Jeep and slipped an arm around her waist. “Let’s head inside. I’ll get the bags later.”
“I wish I could go for a hike in the woods with you. It really is beautiful here.” Leah clamped her teeth together as a twinge of pain zinged through her knee.
“Next time.” Pulling the keys from his pocket, he unlocked the front door and waited for the cat to precede them inside. “You should still be using those crutches.”
“My knee feels a whole lot better, the swelling has gone down, and after a full day of walking with crutches, I’m over the damned things. I know it’ll be a while before I can do anything strenuous, but I can get around the house unaided.”
He squeezed her to his side. “I like aiding you, but I’d rather take you rock climbing. That’ll have to wait.”
“For me, yes, but I know you’re dying to go.” Leah glanced around the main room of his perfectly tidy cabin. “Wow, I really am an unorganized mess. I’m surprised you can stand hanging out in my house.”
“I’m learning I can put up with a lot when I have the right motivation.” He led her to a stool at the kitchen counter. “Sit.”
She followed orders. “Should I be flattered or appalled that I’m corrupting you?”
“Flattered. Shall we have lunch?”
“After that huge breakfast? I’m not hungry.”
His gaze slid toward the ropes and harnesses and other paraphernalia hanging on hooks in the mudroom. “We can play cards or work on a puzzle or—”
She dropped a hand onto his arm. “Go. Do your own thing. Please. I agreed to come with you because I needed a break from stressing over who might try to kill me next.” Her grip tightened. “But if you hover over me all weekend, I may scream.”
He grinned. “Can’t have you turning into a raving lunatic. Fine, I’ll go. I expect you can entertain yourself.”
“Thank you.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m a big girl now.”
“Funny.”
“I try.” She waved a hand. “We can go out to dinner after you get home, since I doubt you have much food in the house. Then maybe stop by the store for milk and eggs and a few other necessities.”
“I have nonperishables in the pantry. You can heat up a can of soup if you get hungry later.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “You rock. You know that, right?”
“What, because I don’t cling? That’s not my style. Have a good time, but try not to hurt yourself. Can’t have both of us gimping around.”
He grinned. “I do love your sense of humor.” He kissed her again. “I’ll change, grab a couple of protein bars and my equipment, then I’m out of here.”
“Great, but bring those bags in first.”
Twenty minutes later, Leah was alone with the cat—who seemed to delight in tormenting her dog by stalking his every move—and a quivering canine. She eyed Charlie. “You’re just plain mean. You know that, right?”
The cat narrowed his eyes at her.
“Fine.” She limped to the door. “Out, Barney. Go chase a squirrel or something.”
Her cell phone rang as she headed back toward the kitchen. Hobbling as fast as she could go, she scooped it up just before it went to voice mail.
“Hello.”
“You’ll never guess who just called me.”
Leah rounded the end of the counter and opened the freezer door. “Hi, Grandma. Who?”
“Do you remember Milly Harrington? Your grandpa and I used to play bridge with Milly and Fred.” Her voice lowered. “You didn’t hear this from me, but the Harringtons were swingers back in the day.”
“I remember her.” After searching through two pullout bins, Leah extracted a bag of frozen mangos. Her damn knee had started to ache again.
“Milly’s a widow now, too. A few years back, she moved to a senior community similar to mine up in Astoria to be closer to her daughter.” Gram’s tone filled with a hint of superiority. “I guess everyone isn’t as self-sufficient as I am.”
Leah’s smile faded as she hitched herself up onto a stool, extended her leg across a second seat, and slapped the frozen fruit onto her knee. Her grandma wouldn’t be able to live alone much longer, either, now that she was broke. “Astoria? That’s where Brock lives.”
“He does? I’d forgotten. That man . . . well, never mind. You know my feelings on the subject of your ex-husband.”
“Only too well.”
“Anyway, Milly heard I got taken by that con man back in September. Flo, who does my hair, is the worst sort of gossip, and they’re friends.”
Her knee was going numb, which, Leah supposed, was the point. She wasn’t certain Gram’s rambling narrative had one. “Uh, is there a reason you called to chat about Milly?”
“Well, of course. One of Milly’s neighbors stopped by to tell her all about this handsome young man who’d offered her an investment opportunity she simply couldn’t pass up. Sometime during the conversation, Milly remembered Flo’s story about me.”
Leah straightened and clenched the cell a little tighter. “Investing in real estate?”
“That’s right.”
“What was this man’s name?”
“Eric Hilliard. But Milly’s neighbor mentioned something funny. She said the man reminded her of Ricky Nelson, who was a big heartthrob back in the fifties and sixties.”
The mangos slipped out of Leah’s hand and smacked against the floor. “You’re kidding?”
“I’m not. Do you think there might be a connection to my con man?”
“I certainly do. Did Milly contact her neighbor and urge her to report this guy?”
“Since I gave her an earful, she definitely plans to.” Her grandma chuckled. “She was all atwitter, talking about busting this case wide open. I think Milly’s been watching too many cop shows. Anyway, I called you as soon as I hung up.”
“This could be the break we’ve been waiting for. If Hilliard, or whatever he’s calling himself, makes a second trip to see this woman . . .”
“The police could nab him . . . and I might get all my money back.”
Leah frowned. “It’s a little strange this jerk is hitting another retirement community so soon after robbing you. It was months between his previous cons.”
“Maybe he needs more cash for some reason. I hope it doesn’t mean he spent all of mine.”
“Grandma, can you call our local police station? They should be brought up-to-date since they’re investigating this man . . . if he’s the same person. Just tell them everything you told me.”
“I still have that nice Officer Long’s business card. I’ll call him directly.”
“You do that. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow night after Ryan and I get home.”
“Okay. Bye, Leah.”
She set down her cell then swooped to grab the bag of mangos off the floor. Closing her eyes, she said a little prayer the cops would soon catch the bastard stealing from seniors. When her phone rang again, she answered without checking the display. “Did you forget something, Gram?”
“It’s Brock.”
Her eyes popped open. “I mention your name, and suddenly you call me? Weird. What do you want?”
“I guess the reports of your near demise were exaggerated. You’re your usual snarky self.”
She scowled. “Someone told you I was in a car wreck?”
“Pete mentioned it. I know we aren’t on the best terms, but I didn’t like hearing you’d been hauled off to the hospital in an ambulance.”
A long breath hissed out. “I appreciate that. Apparently someone else isn’t nearly as concerned for my health.”
“Huh?”
“The crash was no accident. Someone shoved my car off that cliff on purpose.”
“Why the hell would anyone do that?”
She pressed a hand to her forehead as her head began to throb. “Long story. This person thought I had incriminating evidence from an old crime. Some photos.”
“Do you?”
Leah hesitated for a moment as her mind flashed to Ryan handing over the remaining pictures and negatives to Detective Stannard the previous morning. “No, I don’t, thank God.”
“Then why—”
“As I said before, long story. But hopefully word has spread by now, and this freak will leave me alone in the future.”
“I really don’t wish you ill, Leah.”
He probably believed every word of his declaration. In Brock’s small mind, emotional wounds didn’t count for much.
“Great. Thanks for calling.”
His voice rose. “Wait. Why’d you mention my name?”
“What?”
“When you answered the phone, you said you’d just mentioned my name.”
“Oh, yeah.” Leah massaged her temples. “My grandma called. I don’t know if you heard, but some bastard scammed her and robbed her blind.”
“If you think I—”
“That’s not what I was implying. Gram would have recognized you, so don’t get your shorts in a knot. Anyway, this loser is now preying on elderly women in Astoria. I mentioned you live there.”
“Oh. Evie isn’t exactly a fan of mine, so I thought . . . Never mind. Someone stole all her money?”
“Damn near every cent. She’s going to have to move in with me.”
“Unfortunate.” Brock’s tone dripped sarcasm. “I guess that’ll kill your sex life with good old Ryan.”
“You’re a jerk.” Leah hung up the phone. “Ass.”
Charlie strolled into the room and jumped up onto the stool next to her injured knee. When she reached out to pet him, he batted her hand with his paw, claws extended. A faint line of blood appeared.
Leah rolled her eyes. “Perfect.”