Kitabı oku: «Freezing Point», sayfa 3

FOUR

The trauma of the last few minutes still fresh in her mind, Casey ran her fingers through Simon’s soft fur and looked into Jesse’s face.

Pain seeped into her thoughts. She remembered hitting the tile with her head and biting the inside of her mouth. She frowned and touched her head.

“You’re hurt.” Jesse nudged the dog from the sofa and sat next to her. “Let me see.”

He placed his hands on her head, tilting it just so, then ran a finger over the lump. “Ouch …” he said, as though her pain were his.

Though she winced a little, his gentle touch and apparent concern sent a barrage of warmth through Casey’s insides. Uncomfortable with his nearness, she pulled away. “It’s nothing. Just a bump.”

He shoved his hand over his mouth, a contemplative look on his face. “Maybe we should take you to the E.R., just to be safe.”

Casey pushed up from the sofa. “I’m fine. I’ve had a concussion before, and this is nothing.”

When Simon began sniffing around the living room, Jesse rose and moved toward the dog. He reached down and grabbed the leash then looked over at Casey. “What can I do to help? Can I get you something?”

She weaved her fingers through her hair, careful to avoid the sore spot. “I’m just a little shaken, that’s all. It’s not every night a girl faces off with a man holding a gun in her own home.” She offered a small grin. “Even if it isn’t exactly my home.”

“Maybe you should call your aunt and uncle and let them know what happened.”

“Yeah, let them call off any other dogs.” Feeling chilled, Casey rubbed her arms and turned her back on Jesse. Tonight’s incident, coupled with fleeing her home only days ago, left her more than frazzled. Tears stabbed at the back of her eyes.

From beside her, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders and squeezed. “It’s all right, Casey.” Jesse’s words were soft, his breath warm against her ear.

This wasn’t the man she met today on the loading dock. This was someone entirely different. She liked this Jesse much better.

Casey wanted to ask him how he knew it was all right, but she couldn’t because he would hear the tears in her voice as she fought them sliding down her cheeks. At least she didn’t fall victim to a full sob, which is what she really wanted to do.

She couldn’t be that uninhibited in front of Jesse—a man she’d met only this afternoon. By all counts, he was a complete stranger.

And yet, Casey felt safe with him. Because of that, she allowed him to hold her, if only for a few moments. She sank into what felt like the protective armor of his arms. It had been far too long since she’d experienced that feeling.

Finally, her anguish dissipated, at least for now, she released a slow breath. Jesse must have taken that as his cue and dropped his arms.

He turned her to face him and lifted her chin. “You’re going to be all right. Make sure you set the alarm when I leave.”

Casey wanted to tell him that arming the place hadn’t stopped the intruder. But then again, Mr. Spear wasn’t exactly an intruder and obviously had the alarm-system password. She’d have to ask Aunt Leann if she could change the password and how to do it. That would go a long way in making her feel safer.

“Thank you, Mr. Jesse Dufour. Who knows what might have happened if you hadn’t shown up.” She knew her smile was weak, but Jesse was the only reason she smiled at all. That is, Jesse and his dog, Simon.

He jammed a hand in his pocket and held Simon’s leash, keeping the dog from her, then without warning, he released him. Simon came bounding at Casey once again.

She knelt to meet him. “Come here, you.”

When she looked up at Jesse, his expression had sobered. “I’m going to check around the rest of the house now to make sure there isn’t someone else lurking in a closet, though I doubt it.”

“I’ll come with you,” she said.

“No, you stay with Simon. He’ll keep you safe if there’s any need.”

Jesse finally returned. “The house is empty except for us. Listen, I gave you my business card today, but it doesn’t include my personal cell. Let me give you that number.”

“I’ll get my phone.” Casey came back to find him standing halfway out the doorway, one foot on the deck. “Okay, what is it?”

He gave her the number and she stored it in her phone. “Got it. But I’m sure I’ll be fine. It was just a misunderstanding, right?”

“Right. If you get another intruder you should call the police. I was referring to the fact that you wanted an interview. That’s the best way to contact me.” He grinned.

“I knew that.” Heat crept up her neck. Had she actually thought he would return to protect her if she called? Still, he’d already given a contact number for the interview. Why was he giving his personal number now? She liked that. Warmth spread through her but it quickly died. She couldn’t have called the police tonight if she tried. Or Jesse, either, for that matter.

Next time she’d go for the phone instead of a figurine.

“How about tomorrow at nine?” he asked.

“Tomorrow? I thought you said a couple of days?” Casey had considered that Jesse would likely renege, considering how eager he had been to see her leave the ice company.

“Okay, a couple of days then,” he said.

Did she really want to wait that long? Not a chance.

“Tomorrow at nine o’clock.”

“See you then.” He completed his exit through the door.

She watched him make his way down the steps and disappear into the darkness on the beach. Suddenly she felt drained—tired from running for her life, running from Will, and exhausted from her struggle with a friendly intruder.

What an oxymoron.

Long after Jesse left that night, Casey lay in bed, staring at a late-night talk show on the muted television while she held the phone to her ear. She’d left a message with Aunt Leann about the friendly but brusque intruder, then spent a few minutes writing in her diary. She’d kept a diary for years. All of her deepest feelings were poured onto its pages, including thoughts about everyone she knew. When she’d fled Portland, her diary had been among the most important items to grab. Journaling kept her centered, giving her the ability to laugh when life threw her the unexpected. Maybe one day she could read back over the events of the last few months and laugh.

No. She doubted she’d ever laugh about this.

Then, she’d jammed the book beneath a pillow and called Meg because she couldn’t bear to be alone tonight.

“Thanks for staying on the line with me, Meg. I think I’m finally getting sleepy.”

“I’m glad you called. I was getting worried. But … I want to hear more about this Jesse guy. He really just barged into the place and tackled a guy with a gun? Who would do that?”

A hero, that’s who.

Meg wanted Casey to focus on something positive so she could get some sleep, Casey knew that. She pointed the controller at the television and shut it off then snuggled deeper into the soft, quilted blankets.

Funny, earlier in the day she’d wanted to call Meg to tell her about the strange vibes she’d gotten from Jesse while at her uncle’s company—how suspicious she’d been of him. She’d wanted to hear if Meg thought Casey was overreacting, given all she’d been through.

Now she considered Jesse one of the good guys, and she didn’t need Meg’s opinion to believe it.

But did that really matter when Will Tannin was out there, waiting and watching for his chance to kill her? Despite the distance she’d put between her and Tannin, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she hadn’t lost him.

It was well after eleven-thirty when Jesse felt comfortable releasing his watch over the house where Casey was hopefully sleeping. After checking the house—looking for any places that an intruder could easily enter or had already entered —Jesse had said good-night and instructed her to arm the security system.

Though Spear claimed he wasn’t an intruder, the incident had shaken Casey and, Jesse hated to admit, it had shaken him. He’d given a show of jogging down the beach but returned moments later to watch for signs of danger.

In the meantime, he sent the image he’d taken of Spear to the others working the case to be analyzed. He’d know soon enough if tonight’s mishap had been just that … a case of mistaken identity. And a case in which Spear had been abusive in his handling of Helms’s niece. Jesse sensed in his gut there was more going on here.

He tugged the thumb drive from his pocket—the item he’d seen slip from Spear’s pocket. He intended to find out what was on it. Spear would soon discover he’d lost the item and if he had any sense, he’d suspect that it occurred during his scuffle with Jesse.

Jesse feared Spear would return to the house to search for the missing item. What Jesse didn’t know was the man’s mood if he came back—would he knock on the door, knowing Casey was there, or would his handling of her be gruff again?

Right off, he didn’t think he would like the guy even if he hadn’t been pointing a nine-millimeter at Casey.

Casey opened her eyes and stretched out on the soft mattress—one of the best she’d ever slept on.

Oh, no. What time was it?

Blurry-eyed, she sat straight up and stared at the clock on the bedside table. Did that read nine o’clock?

Tossing the blankets off, Casey hurried to the bathroom to shower and dress. She had her interview with Jesse this morning and now she was late. She’d never overslept like this. But the last few days had been harrowing, and she hadn’t given herself much time to regroup.

It was too late for a few days of rest now. She had a job, or was close to having one.

Dressed and as ready to face the day as she would be, Casey backed her car from the driveway, planning to grab a cup of coffee on the way to the Helms Ice and Trucking Company where she’d interview Jesse. Her heart did a quick flip at the idea of seeing him again.

Pathetic.

Her car struggled to climb the hill as she whipped around a curve in the road that skirted a sea-cliff viewpoint. Steering with her left hand, she called the Orange Crossings Times on her phone with her right and, careful to watch the road, too, she punched in the editor’s extension.

To her surprise, Danny Garcia picked up on the first ring.

“Danny here.”

“Mr. Garcia, hi, this is Casey Wilkes, aka Carson Williams. I got that story you wanted.”

“Oh, yeah? Which one was that?”

Casey held on to her smile, despite his discouraging tone.

“I’m headed over to interview Jesse Dufour, the ice sculptor at Helms Ice. So, do I have the job, then?”

Casey’s car lurched out of control and she dropped her cell to grip the wheel.

What in the world?

The VW was nearly impossible to control. A car honked as it passed her on Shoreline Road.

Casey slowed the car, though steering was difficult, and managed to prod it onto the shoulder, though not completely.

She hopped out to investigate the damage. About a quarter of the car was still on the road. Too bad. With the crags hedging the beach next to the road and her inability to perfectly control the car, she didn’t feel comfortable trying to move it completely off the road.

But on this side, she saw nothing wrong.

She stomped around to the other side.

A blowout.

Of all the …

Hands on her hips, she turned her gaze from the tire and her precarious position on the road and scanned the shoreline, watching the waves as they lapped the beach. The day had started wrong, all wrong.

Opening the passenger door, Casey scrounged around the small car looking for her cell that she’d dropped mid-conversation with Danny.

She found it and held it to her ear. “You still there?”

Silence. Casey called him again, but the line was busy. Next, she called Jesse’s number, thankful he’d thought to give it to her, and that she’d stored it in her phone.

That he’d been that protective and concerned for her seemed a little strange at first. But with the likes of Tannin after her, Casey could use a dose of protective behavior from a man, so she had welcomed it. Last night, he’d single-handedly doused her suspicious first impression of him.

She was happy to nix any further thoughts on the matter, considering she had enough trouble already.

“Casey, where are you?” Jesse said, skipping right over the normal greeting.

Casey heard a note of alarm in his voice and wanted to dispel his concern. “I’ve got a flat tire. Hope that doesn’t inconvenience you. Can you wait for me?”

She left out that she was already running late when she woke up this morning.

“I’ll do better than that. Tell me where you are, and I’ll come change your tire.”

Was he serious? Though in all honesty, she’d hoped for a little help. “Just up the …”

Casey paused mid-sentence and watched as a silver SUV took the curve in the road much too fast. What’s more, even with her car in full view, it began picking up speed.

Really? Could they not see that her flower-girl green VW was parked partially on the road?

“Shoreline, not too …”

“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Casey?”

“There’s a car driving a little too fast.” To avoid hitting her car they’d have to veer, and it looked like it was going to be one of those last-minute swerves, if it happened at all.

A prickle of alarm snaked up her spine.

To Casey’s shock, the driver gunned the engine and veered right toward her car—and her.

FIVE

Casey’s ear-splitting scream sliced through Jesse’s mind.

He’d already jumped in his Jeep to drive over and change her tire, and now he peeled from the parking lot, through a red light, ignoring the honks and a near-collision with a minivan, and onto Shoreline Road.

“Casey, can you hear me? Are you there?” The connection was lost. He slung the phone into the seat next to him.

“God, if you can hear me, please, protect her.” Please, let her be okay.

Guilt wrangled through him—why did it take a crisis situation for him to cry out to God, to actually ask for help?

He already knew the answer to that—he still wasn’t sure God was listening. Jesse carried a lot of baggage, all due to his career. That’s why it was more than critical for him to get it right this time.

A red Toyota Camry—someone out for a joy ride—drove like a rickshaw in front of him. Jesse laid on his horn as if he believed they would pull over for him—which they didn’t—then passed when he had the chance.

Not far up the road he spotted the green thing she called her car. From this distance, it appeared unharmed, but he couldn’t be sure. And where was she? Had someone taken her?

His pulse ringing in his ears, he feared from the beginning that her simple stumble onto the loading dock, coupled with her background, might put her in a potentially explosive situation. If someone considered her a threat, the stakes were too high to allow Casey to simply walk away.

He intended to find out if Carlos and Miguel had plans to hurt her or worse, kill her.

But how could he find out? And if that were the case, how could he stop it?

Nearing her car, he slammed on the brakes, sending the Jeep sliding across the graveled shoulder. Jesse jumped out. Casey was nowhere to be seen.

He jogged from the VW to stand at the edge of the rocky face that tapered into a grass-covered knoll before morphing into sand. Cupping his hands, he shouted. “Casey!”

“You don’t have to yell.”

Jesse looked down. There she sat, at the bottom of a short drop, next to a moss-covered boulder.

“Casey!”

Relief washed over him like a twenty-foot wave. He almost couldn’t believe his eyes. He leaped down and closed the distance between them. Upon his approach, Casey stood, brushing off her slacks.

He’d honestly thought the worst. Overwhelmed to see her alive, he pulled her into his arms. She melted into him as he brushed his hand down her long, silky hair.

“I’m so glad you’re all right,” he said, a mere whisper against her ear. “What are you doing down here?”

Was she hiding? No, if someone wanted her they could easily have found her.

“After what happened, I needed to sit down. I found this spot.”

Sensing it was time to let her go, he held her at arm’s length. “You want to tell me why I heard you scream again? Because this is becoming a habit.”

“Sorry. I certainly wouldn’t want your coming to my rescue to be a habit.” Her sea-green eyes pierced his.

Regretting his words, he asked again. “Casey, what happened?”

Her eyes shone with tears as she looked away.

He thought she was crying, except the hint of a smile touched her lips when her gaze returned to him. She’d had a scare, but she was rallying, at least he hoped.

He liked that.

But he had more important things to think about. Jesse hated considering that Casey had possibly become a target. She hadn’t exactly done anything to deserve drawing the crime ring’s attention. At least, not yet.

And if she had, then why was she still alive? Things weren’t adding up.

“Tell me exactly what happened.” He needed facts.

A warm breeze wafted over him, carrying her perfume with it.

“You already know half of it,” she said. “I had a blowout then stopped to change it and that’s when I called you. I was on the phone with you when I saw an SUV barreling toward the car and me.”

“Are you sure it was barreling toward you, or simply gunning up the hill? It obviously didn’t hit your car. Why would anyone want to hurt you? Could you be mistaken about the driver’s intent?” Jesse cringed at his questions, knowing all the possibilities. But would she know? That’s what he really needed to find out. Had she done something at the ice company that he knew nothing about?

Something to seriously stir things up?

“I don’t know, Jesse. Another car came around the corner and the SUV corrected its course. You’re probably right. It was nothing. I overreacted, and feel like an idiot now. But for a moment there, I really thought the driver intended …” She swallowed hard.

Noticing a slight tremble in her hands, Jesse hated to see her distressed yet again. Still, his shoulders relaxed, if only a little. Maybe it was a fluke, a result of Casey’s nerves. He couldn’t be certain that she was a target, at least not yet. He took a measure of relief from that.

“Did you get the license plate?”

Casey shook her head. “By the time they passed me, I had run out of the way. I don’t think they even saw me. I’m not sure of the make or model, but I could probably figure it out if I looked at pictures.”

If they hadn’t seen her then it wasn’t an attempt on her life. Did someone want to damage her car to send her a warning? Jesse wasn’t sure her claims made any sense.

Jesse squeezed her arm and smiled—a meager attempt to help her recover. “The important thing is that you’re all right. I’m going to change your tire now.”

The limp smile she gave him in return told him she remained uncertain about what had happened. He would check for tampering when he examined the tire, and even if he found none, he’d make sure to get an expert opinion. Though Casey seemed on edge, she hadn’t considered it a setup—a flat tire, then a hit-and-run.

His senses on alert, Jesse worked to change the tire while remaining acutely aware of his surroundings. For all he knew, if someone were trying to harm Casey, they would come back.

After replacing the blown tire with the spare, Jesse stood and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The sun was beginning to climb high in the sky. Though temperatures in this region were usually a steady seventy degrees, no matter the season, Jesse felt the heat of his labor. He hadn’t seen any obvious tampering, but that didn’t mean anything.

“I’ll get this replaced for you,” he said, and carried the tire over to the back of his Jeep. He’d pass it to someone who could get it to Paul Scott in forensics.

Casey trotted behind him. “Really, that’s not necessary. You’ve done so much already. I feel bad enough as it is for bothering you.”

Jesse ignored her and shoved the tire in the back then shut the hatch. He leaned against the Jeep and crossed his arms. “Casey, relax. You’re not bothering me. In fact, far from it.”

He gave her an easy smile because he knew he needed to watch out for her, keep her near. He needed her to like him, even if it were based on a lie. For that, he hated himself.

Hated his job. But that didn’t matter right now.

The problem was, he really did like her, was attracted to her, and that made things much more dangerous. An emotional connection could distract him.

“I hope you’re still up for that interview,” he said, and winked.

She frowned, sending a shard of disappointment through him. Maybe he was pouring it on too thick.

“Sure, but I haven’t had my coffee yet this morning. I’m starting to feel the effects already.”

“I’ve got just what the doctor ordered in my studio. Working with ice can chill a guy to the bone. I’ve got a fancy coffeemaker and all the fixin’s.”

Casey’s smile coiled heat through his insides. He didn’t think he’d need coffee with her around. A silence grew between them—both awkward and uncomfortable. He wanted to hold her again, but this time he had no clear reason other than wanting to feel her in his arms. The thought was ill-timed and inappropriate, and Jesse inwardly groused at himself.

The rumble of a vehicle drew his attention and through the Jeep windows, he spotted what looked like a navy blue SUV making its way up and around the incline.

Now he had a reason. He tugged her behind him as though he could hide her and if not, he could protect her with nothing more than his body. Yeah, right. “Casey, what color was the SUV you saw?”

At the first sign of trouble, he’d get her out of the way, but he didn’t want to scare her anymore if it wasn’t necessary.

“Silver.”

Regardless of it not being the same vehicle, Jesse held her for a moment more, letting the vehicle pass. He almost wished it were the same one so he could get the license plate and find out what really happened, if there was a connection to the vehicle and the crime ring.

The fact that she’d had two close calls—though they both appeared to be innocent misunderstandings—made his gut churn.

Casey followed Jesse in her car, grateful for his assistance. If only he could help her, really help her.

She hadn’t told him the whole of it—she had a madman after her and that’s why she was suspicious beyond reason. But why should she tell Jesse? Would he believe her? Or would he just think she was crazy because she’d been unable to prove anything? Nor had the police, bringing Casey to decide they had grown calloused to her accusations.

That’s why, when Tannin explained how he would kill her—and she was surprised he had not done the deed right then and there—Casey didn’t even consider calling the police. She’d simply fled town. Maybe that’s all Tannin had wanted. As things stood, he’d lost everything and so had she.

The question still nagged her, though. Had Tannin found her in Orange Crossings? Had he been driving the SUV or was it, as Jesse suggested, a misunderstanding?

Translated, I’m paranoid.

Even if she wasn’t overly suspicious, she could go crazy trying to figure things out.

Should she leave town? Where else could she go with no money and no place to stay?

Her sixth sense told her to stay right where she was. Jesse had done a pretty good job of keeping her safe since she’d arrived, and he didn’t even have a clue she was in trouble.

Did that mean she was using the guy for protection? She allowed a chuckle. Not exactly something to be proud of.

She turned into the ice company’s parking lot, following right behind Jesse, and parked next to him. Her emotions and heart were more than vulnerable right now. Desperate and on edge, she needed to tread carefully where one Jesse Dufour was concerned.

She’d known him for all of a day, but just being near him did funny things to her. Getting involved with him romantically would be nuts. He had no clue what he was getting into, and besides, at any moment she might have to run again. Nor did she know Jesse—he could be hiding dark secrets, as well.

Lost in her thoughts, Casey absently sat in her car and before she realized it, Jessie was opening the door for her. He offered his hand and she accepted, stepping from the car.

“Thanks.” She tossed him a smile, but knew it was feeble.

“What’s the matter? Changed your mind already?”

“No, just need the coffee. I’ll be a hundred percent in no time,” she said, unsure of her words.

She stood behind him as he jiggled his keys and found the right one to unlock a door.

“This is the side entrance to my studio,” he said. “Much quicker access to the parking lot.”

He shoved the door open and allowed her to enter before him.

She shuffled into the darkness, Jesse right behind her. He flipped the light switch and fluorescents began the familiar flickering hum and pop then lit the entire room—with a concrete floor, it looked more like part of the warehouse than an office. But then again, it was supposed to be a studio for sculpting ice.

Jesse swept his arm around. “This is where it’s done.”

“Really?”

“No.” He laughed. “I usually sculpt the ice inside a refrigerated room where the temperature is a steady twenty degrees.”

Casey shivered. “It feels cold enough in here for ice. I should have brought a jacket. What was I thinking?”

“That’s my fault. I should have mentioned that to you. But, no problem. I’ve got that covered.” He grabbed a jacket from a peg on the wall and handed it to her.

She slipped into what he offered, though it was three sizes too big. She’d roll up the sleeves if she weren’t so cold. It would do.

“Have a seat, and I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee.” He motioned for her to sit in a plush-looking, contemporary-style chair. That was a surprise, considering the work benches and various tools and equipment scattering the room.

Was there a woman in Jesse’s life already? Disappointment pressed down on her at the thought, although it wasn’t her business.

She could ask that as part of the interview.

Casey did as he asked, recognizing that she was beginning to feel the strain of the past week—maybe she had survived this long on adrenaline alone—and she admitted she should have taken a few days to rest. But when she had first arrived in Orange Crossings, she’d wanted something to take her mind off almost becoming a murder victim, so she’d tackled the sculptor article.

Initially, she had believed herself to be safe here, and she desperately wanted to continue to believe that.

Connecting with Jesse appeared to have been beneficial, as well, and for now, she would play it safe and stick close to him. He hadn’t said a word to her about calling the police on the near-miss today.

Probably thought she was crazy. And that was a real bummer. Casey frowned. She had to pull herself from these depressing thoughts.

Standing at the counter, he had his back to her as he fiddled with the coffeemaker. She took the opportunity to press her cheek against the collar of his jacket and she drew in a breath.

Jesse. His scent filled her head.

In the short time she’d known him, she had been in his arms at least twice now. Distancing herself from the crazy whirlwind emotions, Casey reminded herself of the circumstances that had drawn her into his arms.

“How do you like it? Strong or weak?” His question broke into her morbid thoughts.

Casey realized he was staring at her. “Strong. I love a dark brew with a tablespoon of half-and-half.”

He grinned. She could get used to that grin.

“A woman after my own heart.”

Finally, Jesse made his way to Casey, holding a steaming mug of dark, rich coffee. “Maybe this will not only warm you but wake you up, too.”

Casey widened her eyes and sat tall, taking the mug from his hands. “I’m not falling asleep.”

Unease flickered across his eyes. “You didn’t sleep last night after your uncle’s friend accosted you in the house, did you?”

Unwilling to admit she hadn’t slept all that well for an entirely different reason, Casey focused on sketches on the wall behind him. She was tired because of the traumatic days, weeks and months before yesterday—but she couldn’t tell him about that, either. Still, she’d slept a little, she knew, because Jesse had made her feel a degree of safety. She smiled into her cup.

“It was a restless night,” she finally said, and took a long swallow of Jessie’s coffee. “You should go into the coffee business. I’d come to your coffee shop every day.”

Jesse laughed. “That’s what Ricky says.”

“Ricky?”

“He’s my assistant, helps me with the ice. I can’t do everything without a few extra hands. But he’s a floater, so sometimes he’s here, sometimes he’s helping out in another department.”

“So, he’s not an ice sculptor like you?”

“I’m not sure that’s his aspiration.”

“I’ve never seen one at work,” she said. “An ice sculptor, that is.”

“Then you’re in for a real surprise. It isn’t nearly as glamorous as one might think. If you’re ready, follow me.”

He led the way into another small office in the corner of the larger room where he’d made the coffee.

“Here’s where I create conceptual drawings.” Jesse showed her the artwork that he’d printed from a computer.

“There are some similar sketches on the wall out there,” Casey said.

Jesse nodded. “Yes. I can tell how big I need to make the blocks of ice. I’ve been working a few days on preparing blocks for my next sculptures.”

He gave her a quizzical look. “This is the sort of stuff you wanted to know, right? How it’s all done?”

Casey nodded. “Well, that and I’ll want to interview you personally. This is all very intriguing. Keep talking.”