Part 16 (1/2)
”Who's at the door?” a young male asked.
”Deputy Cavanagh. He-” Amelia began.
”My mother's not here.” Phillip Humphries, Conrad and Vivienne's younger son, swung the door open wide. ”And don't you think you've put her through enough already?”
”I'm sorry if we've upset your mother or you,” Jake said, ”but it's my job to figure out who killed your dad.”
”Well, it wasn't my mom. So leave us alone.” He slammed the door in Jake's face.
Jake moved to knock again, but the door opened. Amelia snuck out and closed it quietly behind herself. ”You must excuse Phillip. He's taking Mr. Humphries' death quite hard.”
It probably didn't help that his mom had taken off to Kodiak with Conrad's best friend. ”Of course,” he said. ”Do you know when Mrs. Humphries will be back?”
”Not until late tonight. If you want to speak with her, you'll have to come back in the morning.”
Tomorrow was Cole and Bailey's wedding, which meant they'd need to return the day after. He was thankful they'd have a day away from Imnek. The place was getting under his skin. He wanted Kayden safe and on home turf. ”Thank you, Amelia.”
She nodded and stepped back inside the house.
”Seems odd for a grieving widow to take off with the deceased's best friend for the day and just leave her kids at home right after they lost their dad,” Kayden said.
”In most cases I'd agree. . . .” Jake looked back at the house and caught sight of Phillip watching from the upstairs window. ”Sadly, based on Vivienne and Stuart's behavior thus far, I can't say I'm surprised.”
”What do you think they're doing on Kodiak?”
He arched a brow.
”So soon after Conrad's death? Wow, no shame there.”
”I could be wrong. Maybe they wanted some time away from us in order to get their stories straight.”
”So . . . you think they killed Conrad?”
”I don't know, but their taking off certainly doesn't help their case.” He tried picturing Vivienne or Stuart leaving the threatening messages. Were either of them a cold-blooded killer, ready to kill again if need be?
After getting a replacement propeller for her plane, the trip back to Yancey pa.s.sed quickly, and Kayden found herself reluctant to leave Jake's presence. Though they'd both be attending the rehearsal and dinner following, it would be different. It wouldn't be just the two of them, and while that should cause her relief, it left her wanting more.
They'd spent more one-on-one time together in the past few months, in the past few days, than they had in all the years they'd known each other. She enjoyed their time alone way too much and was already starting to rely on him, which was dangerous. She didn't want to need anyone. Not again.
15.
Reef sat with Anna on a blanket overlooking the ocean. The rehearsal had taken place at Grace Community Church, where his family attended, and soon the wedding party would be returning for the rehearsal dinner-rehearsal clam bake, to be precise. Darcy and a handful of family friends had hung back at Kayden and Piper's, where the party was being held on the sh.o.r.e. Earlier they'd set up beach chairs in large circles around a series of fire pits. Picnic tables lined the gra.s.sy s.p.a.ce between the sh.o.r.e and the house, and the scent of fresh seafood wafted on the ocean breeze.
Reef glanced over at Anna s.h.i.+vering in her yellow sundress. Alaska was a far cry from her California home. He slipped off his sweater and offered it to her.
She took in his white T-s.h.i.+rt and cargo shorts. ”Are you sure you'll be warm enough?”
”I'll be fine. If not, the house is right there. I can always grab a sweats.h.i.+rt.”
He helped her slip on the navy cable-knit sweater, the sleeves drooping a good three inches past her hands. She was so delicate.
”I'm anxious to meet Kayden and Jake. He sounds interesting.”
So far she'd met the rest of his siblings, their significant others, and a handful of townsfolk-all very curious to see what kind of lady the wild McKenna boy had brought home.
”They're back,” Darcy said, moving up the hill to greet Gage.
Reef stood and helped Anna to her feet. He spotted Jake first, opening his truck door for Kayden. Reef raked a hand through his hair. He still couldn't believe Jake's past. It seemed the thing of movies, not real life. His heart went out to the man. All those years of having his character questioned and doubted by Kayden. He wondered how his sister viewed him now.
Kayden turned toward him, beautiful as ever-long dark hair, high cheekbones, and large almond-shaped eyes. Just like their mom. It was like peeking back into his childhood.
”Hey there,” she said as she approached.
”Hey.” He gave her a hug-quick, like she preferred.
”There's someone I want you to meet.” He turned to Anna, introducing her.
”It's nice to meet you, Anna,” Kayden said. ”I hope you aren't finding our family to be too overwhelming.” She glanced over her shoulder at Cole and Gage already goofing around with a Nerf rocket launcher.
”Everyone's been wonderful,” she said.
Reef waved Jake down from his perch on the hill.
”How's it going, Reef?”
”Much better than last time I was here.”
Jake smiled.
”I don't know if I ever really thanked you for your part in clearing me.”
”Happy to help, small as that part was.”
He was being too modest, but that was Jake. Though he'd been traveling for most of the time Jake had been in Yancey, Reef recognized him as a man to be admired.
”I hear you and Kayden have an interesting case going.”
Jake looked back at Kayden. ”That's one way to put it.”
”We spent the better part of two days questioning Patty Tate, Natalie Adams, and Brody Patterson,” she said.
”Brody? I haven't heard that name in years. How's he doing?”
”He owns the climbing gym over on Imnek. Seems to be doing okay.”