Part 18 (1/2)
He turned and for an instant, she saw his love s.h.i.+ning in those brown eyes, then he dropped that protective cover she'd seen before, mouthed a few words into the phone and pocketing the cell phone, walked toward her.
”I have some police business I need to take care of,” he said before she could invite him back to bed. She could feel the distance he was trying so hard to put between them. But she could also feel him weakening at just the sight of her. As if he ached to touch her. She started to reach for him, knowing once they were in each other's arms- But she didn't. ”I'll get dressed and we can go,” she said quickly and started back toward the bedroom.
”No,” he said, making her spin back around to face him. ”This is something I have to do alone.”
”On our honeymoon?” she asked, her voice cracking. It wasn't that he was leaving her alone. It was the look in his eyes. The wall he was trying so hard to construct between them. Why? What was he so afraid of? It couldn't be them, their marriage. Not after last night.
”I have to be at the last meeting today,” he said. ”I have to find the killer, Karen.”
Before he finds you. He didn't say the words, but she heard them in his look. He didn't say the words, but she heard them in his look.
She nodded. He was just trying to protect her. Nothing was wrong between them. She forced herself to smile. ”I know you're doing it for me.”
He nodded. ”Are you hungry? I could make you some breakfast before I leave.”
She would have liked that. But it wasn't food she wanted. She wanted Jack and it was clear he was anxious to be on his way. ”No, you go on and get your business finished. I can manage.” She saw him hesitate. He really didn't want to leave her. ”I was hoping to explore the chalet today, anyway.”
That seemed to do the trick. He smiled then, knowing how much she loved the old things Crazy Uncle Chuck had collected, and stepped to her, planting a quick kiss on her forehead. ”I'm not leaving you alone. I called-”
”Jack, I don't need a babysitter,” she said, touched by his concern but not wanting a stranger around. The truth was, it made her feel more vulnerable. ”I feel safe here and no one even knows about this place, right?”
He nodded and smiled. ”I know I'm probably being a little overprotective-”
”A little?” she asked, raising a brow, glad to see some of the worry fade in his gaze, some of the reinforcements come down from the wall between them. ”Have you told Denny about the baby yet?”
”I'm stopping by there,” he said. ”I just hate to get his hopes up, you know?”
She knew. For a moment, their gazes met, but Jack pulled away, stepped away. Let him finish this case, Let him finish this case, she told herself. she told herself. Let him realize nothing is going to happen to you. You'll always be with him. Always. Let him realize nothing is going to happen to you. You'll always be with him. Always.
In the distance she could hear the whine of an engine as a vehicle climbed the mountain toward them.
”I'm going to go, then,” he said, sounding relieved.
”Tell your friend to make himself at home,” she said, not wanting to deal with company. She needed to be alone with her thoughts today. She wanted to think only about their lovemaking. Only about the love she'd seen in Jack's eyes.
The chalet would be the perfect place to spend the rest of the afternoon. It was like finding lost treasure, all the wonderful old things. In them she felt a connection with the past. A solid foundation as if each generation built something for the next. Like the cabinetry she constructed. Something that would last.
”I'll be back as soon as I can,” Jack said, obviously distracted as he headed for his Jeep.
”Be careful,” she called after him. ”I love you, Jack.”
He didn't turn around. Maybe he hadn't heard her.
She stared after him, his broad shoulders, the muscled back, his long legs, all so familiar now. How she ached to hold her husband and not let him go.
For just an instant, she felt such a terrible sense of foreboding she wanted desperately to call him back. It was such an odd feeling. She told herself being married to a cop she had to get used to him being in dangerous situations. But she knew it was more than that. This feeling that she might never see him again, that something would happen while he was gone that would separate them forever felt like a warning, an omen.
She shook it off. When had she started believing in premonitions? But she would have called Jack back. Would have begged him not to go-if she'd thought he would have listened. If she thought he could have stayed with her.
But a part of her knew her husband. Knew he had to go. Until the killer was caught, Jack Adams wasn't going to let himself love her. Not the way her heart promised her that he wanted to.
So she watched him leave and prayed the killer would be caught soon. She needed her husband. And Jack needed her. Maybe he just didn't realize how much yet.
JACK DROVE AWAY, sick inside. ”I love you, Jack.” Her last words echoed in his head, in his heart, filling him with guilt and shame. He'd done things he wasn't necessarily proud of, but he'd never been a coward. Or a liar. Or a thief.
He'd stolen her heart in the most despicable way, destined to break it. Let her memory come back, Let her memory come back, he prayed. he prayed. Let her remember the killer before it's too late. Let her remember the killer before it's too late. Karen's safety was all that mattered. Even if it meant losing her. Karen's safety was all that mattered. Even if it meant losing her.
He told himself he couldn't think about any of that now. He had to catch the killer. Stop him before he got to Karen. Jack drove to the hospital, determined to put an end to all the lies tonight when he returned to the lodge and Karen, no matter what happened today. He couldn't take any more. He couldn't lie to her anymore.
Denny looked better, but still weak. Still vulnerable. Jack knew it had more to do with worrying about his daughter than the physical effects of his injury.
”I can't believe you dug up the grave,” Denny said, sounding impressed rather than horrified. ”That was something like what I would do.”
It was true. Denny had always been the hothead, the one in trouble. So why was Jack now about to lose his job, his career? He still couldn't understand what it was between him and Baxter, some animosity he'd never understood.
”Once we saw that someone had already started digging-”
”You're kidding,” Denny said. ”Did you see who it was?”
Jack shook his head and told Denny about the person who'd taken a shot at them. ”Someone didn't want us to know that the only thing in that casket was a doll.”
”A doll?” Denny asked in surprise.
”Karen thinks it was Liz's from when she was a girl.”
Denny's eyes widened slightly, his jaw tightened. ”Vandermullen.”
”He had to be in on it,” Jack agreed. ”But Liz must have agreed to go along with the plan to give up the baby for adoption. She wouldn't have been looking for your daughter if she hadn't known about it, right?”
”But why?” Denny asked, sounding in pain. ”Why didn't she tell me about the baby? Why did she give her up?”
Jack shook his head. ”Maybe Vandermullen knew it wasn't his kid and put pressure on her. Who knows?”
Denny nodded thoughtfully. ”You think she was killed because she was searching for our baby? This mystery man. If he took the baby, maybe he didn't want Liz finding out where our daughter is.”
Jack shrugged. It was a possibility. But at this point, only speculation. For all they knew the baby might not even be alive. But like Denny and Karen, Jack was starting to believe she was. And that Liz's death was tied to the illegal adoption.
”So, you're going to try to draw out the killer tonight,” Denny said.
He nodded. ”I'm worried that if this really is about your daughter, then we've uncovered enough that the killer is feeling trapped. I'm afraid of what he'll do.”