Twilight at Blueberry Barrens Read online

  Dixie shook her head. “I’m not sure why you would think of me. It’s a little fancy for what little jewelry I have.”

  Kate opened it and dumped the items out on the scuffed wooden table. “This watch has the name Dixie engraved on the back.”

  “Oh my.” Dixie reached for the watch and ran her fingers over the engraving. “This belonged to the grandmother I was named after. I thought I’d lost it. It was in the pouch?”

  It had to have been stolen then. By Paul? Drake pushed the other items apart with his fingers. “Do you recognize anything else here?”

  A frown settled between Dixie’s hazel eyes. She picked up a ring. It was a gold high school class ring with the initials AN on it. “This is Amelia Nicholson’s ring. She stayed with me about three months ago after a tiff with her parents. She was here a couple of weeks, and the ring came up missing. She couldn’t figure out what had happened to it.”

  Drake couldn’t place the name, but Kate set her water glass onto the table with a clatter. “My neighbor Amelia? The one who reported a Peeping Tom at her house a few weeks ago?”

  Dixie nodded. “Poor child. She’s been practically afraid to leave her house ever since. I think she’s going to stay with her grandmother in Portland for a while instead of moving back to the dorm.”

  Drake didn’t like the sound of this. He pointed to the ring. “So that came up missing about the same time as the watch? Or do you know when you last saw the watch?”

  “I showed it to her when she was here, so I know I had it at least part of her visit.” She glanced at Kate. “You think Paul broke in at some point and stole the jewelry?”

  “But why? And why would he be carrying it through the blueberry fields?” Kate rose and went to refill her water glass.

  Drake picked up another ring, with a small pale-blue birthstone. “This stuff is hardly worth much. Why would a thief take this kind of thing and hide it? The entire stash probably isn’t worth more than a hundred bucks at a pawn shop.”

  Kate turned from the sink to face him. Her blue eyes were somber. “I probably read too many suspense novels, but you know what keeps coming to mind? Trophies.”

  “You mean like a serial killer?” Drake shook his head. “You’re reaching, Kate. Paul has his issues, but I don’t think he’s a serial killer.”

  Pink tinged her cheeks. “I knew it sounded silly, but we’ve had some issues with a Peeping Tom in the area. And there was Whitney Peece’s murder. It just made me think.”

  He touched a bracelet. “Any of this jewelry yours other than the earrings?”

  She carried her water back to the table. “Nothing I recognize.”

  He locked gazes with her and saw the vulnerability in her eyes. “It wouldn’t hurt to mention it to the sheriff. Maybe he’s had some reports of these items missing.”

  “Thank you. I know it’s far-fetched, but I thought it was worth bringing up.”

  He turned the clues over in his head even as he stared at the items. He turned to Kate. “Let’s go see the sheriff.”

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Drake and Kate found the sheriff at a table in the Oyster Bistro. Soft eighties music mingled with the tinkle of tableware and the chatter of the servers and customers.

  Colton was talking to a man Drake had never seen before. “Think we should interrupt him? He looks intent. You recognize the guy with him?”

  Kate nodded and headed that way. “That’s Jonas Kissner, one of his deputies. You talked to him on the phone the other day. I went to school with him.” She reached the booth. “Hey, guys. I hope you don’t mind if we interrupt you.”

  Colton set his coffee cup on the table. “Just having lunch. Let me scooch over. This is Deputy Kissner.”

  Drake nodded to the deputy, a redheaded man in his late twenties. Kissner’s pale-green eyes looked him over, and he nodded back. Drake sat beside the sheriff and Kate took the seat opposite him.

  “I still haven’t gotten those autopsy reports,” Drake said.

  The deputy frowned and the sheriff shrugged. “Maybe I typed the e-mail wrong. Give it to me again on a piece of paper.”

  Drake wrote out his email carefully on a notepad the sheriff handed him, then gave it back. “We have some information for you.” He nodded across the table at Kate, who sat in a wash of sunlight that made her dark-blonde hair glow.

  She dug in her ginormous bag and pulled out the jewelry pouch. “We have a theory about the contents in this bag.” They spilled onto the table surface when she upended the pouch. “I found it in my fields.”

  Drake watched her animation as she explained to the sheriff and his deputy about three pieces of the jewelry they’d recognized. With color in her cheeks, she was pretty enough to snag the attention of every man in the place. But he didn’t like the thought of anyone else ogling her long, shorts-clad legs.

  Kate picked up Dixie’s watch. “Over the past year the news has reported break-ins and instances of a man looking in windows. What if this is his trophy bag? He breaks into houses and steals things from women he’s targeting.”

  The deputy straightened and shook his head. “Old Dixie is hardly the type to warrant a Peeping Tom’s attention. I think you’re jumping to conclusions.”

  Kate tapped the watch face. “I think the real target was Amelia Nicholson. He got Dixie’s watch, too, while he was there.”

  Colton pursed his lips and looked over the loot. “I hope you’re wrong, Kate. A man who collects these kinds of things is the type of criminal who might move on to murder.” He looked up at her. “I’m going to take these into custody and have every woman who reported a break-in or a Peeping Tom have a look. If we find more correlation, this thing just got really serious.” He popped a mint and sighed. “Whitney Peece reported a man in her hotel room while she was showering the day before she died. I’d better have her next of kin take a look at these items and see if anything belongs to her.”

  Kate hugged herself and shuddered.

  “This Peeping Tom guy might have stolen something from her room that night. Many of these criminals start with peeping, then move on to rape and eventually murder.” He nodded toward the bag. “If that’s what we’ve got here, I want to nab him before he goes any further.”

  “Of course.” Kate took the water the server brought and sipped it.

  Drake watched the sheriff scoop up the items and place them back in the bag. “Those are all compromised by now, right? I mean, you can’t test them for DNA or fingerprints. We’ve all handled them before we realized how important they might be.”

  Colton closed the bag. “Yeah, I’ll give it a try, but it’s a long shot. Any fingerprints would be smudged by now. Who all touched this?”

  “Me, Drake, and Dixie. Claire too.”

  “I’ll need DNA samples from all of you. Stop by the lab as soon as you can.”

  Was no one going to mention the obvious here? “What if it’s related to Heath’s and his wife’s murders? Maybe this guy targeted Melissa first.” Out of the corner of his eye, Drake saw the deputy roll his eyes, but he didn’t care. His brother was murdered and he would prove it. He wasn’t about to tell the sheriff about Melissa’s plans with Chen. It would only reinforce his opinion that Heath killed her.

  Colton paused and a frown crouched between his eyes. “They were staying at the Tourmaline. We’ve had some reports of a Peeping Tom out there. I suppose it’s possible. But you both need to let me worry about it and quit getting so excited about everything you find. Let me find the chowderhead.” He glowered at Kate. “You know better than to interfere, Kate. It shows a lack of trust in me too.”

  Drake ignored the sheriff’s comment and stared across the table at Kate, who was looking down at her hands. “What all do you remember of that day?”

  “Just what I told you. Finding the bodies.”

  “Back up to before that. Tell me about your morning, what you saw on the way there, what you did after you parked. All of it.”

  Kate’s blue eyes cl
ouded. “I don’t remember a whole lot. Finding the bodies wiped out most everything else from that day. I’m sorry. That stupid chemo brain strikes again.”

  Maybe a hypnotist? What could he do to help jog her memory?

  The sheriff cleared his throat. “I do have one suggestion, though I think this is a wicked waste of time. I’ve used a forensic artist by the name of Gwen Marcey before. She’s been trained in helping witnesses recall things. She’s holding a seminar in Ellsworth tomorrow. Let me see if she’d have time to talk to Kate.”

  It sounded like a long shot to Drake, but he was ready to try anything. Ellsworth was only twenty-five miles northwest from Summer Harbor. “Call her.”

  * * *

  It was a perfect afternoon for the beach and a great way to forget about the looming interview tomorrow with the forensic artist. Kate laid out a red-and-white tablecloth onto the sand and weighted it down with rocks to keep the wind from tearing it from the shore. Jackson offered his help by plopping down on one corner. The girls squealed as cold waves hit their ankles. Sunset Cove was a great place for kids since the water deepened gradually.

  She found it hard to tear her gaze away from Drake. His tanned legs were strong and muscular as he ran from the waves with the girls, and his dark thatch of curly hair glistened in the sunlight. He hadn’t said much after their talk with the sheriff at lunch, and she had been glad to let the topic drop. No matter how skilled the forensic artist was, Kate was sure she wouldn’t be able to remember anything important. It was just going to be more stress with no reward.

  She set the basket in the middle of the tablecloth, then removed her cover-up. Though her bathing suit was a modest one-piece, she felt exposed as she went to join Drake and the girls at the water’s edge. “Bunch of sissies. The water isn’t that cold. Come on in.” She bit back a gasp as the frigid water hit her ankles, but she wasn’t about to show it to the girls or she’d never coax them in the water. The gentle roller coming her way was perfect, so she held her breath and dove into it as it reached her.

  The shock of being immersed in the sea took her breath away, and even when her head popped out of the water, she couldn’t quite catch her air. She caught a glimpse of Phoebe’s shocked face and waved. “Come on in! I’ll teach you to swim.” Her wet hair obscured her vision, and she pushed it out of her face, then struck out for the rocks that rimmed this small cove.

  When she was in the sea, she felt at one with it. Her feelings of powerlessness melted away in the water, and she didn’t have to worry about what other people thought of her. She didn’t have to strive to measure up but could let the water strip all those fears away.

  She flipped to her back and floated in the waves, facing the warm sun. It had been weeks since she’d gotten a chance to go swimming. Gulls squawked overhead and a tern glided by on the wind.

  She turned her head at the sound of a splash and saw Drake dive into a wave. The girls shrieked as he spun and splashed them. She swam closer and angled her hand to the water to throw a large spray of water over his back. The surprise on his face when he whirled around made her giggle as hard as the girls.

  “Come on, girls, let’s get her,” he called.

  The girls finally dared to run to the water and jump in. Emma brought her bucket in with her and scooped water into it. Instead of dumping it on Kate’s head, she upended it onto her uncle’s head.

  He faced her. “Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side.”

  “You’re bigger than Miss Kate. She needs help.” Emma leaped onto Drake’s back as he crouched in the water.

  His head went under, and Kate knew he was playing along with the little girl. She moved beside the girls. “Good job, Emma. You’re so strong.”

  Drake’s head emerged from the sea. “You’re all ganging up on me. No fair.” He scooped Emma up into the air, then launched her back into the water.

  Her grin was wide as she hit the water and came up sputtering. “Get him, Miss Kate.”

  Jackson leaped from his nap and began to bark, then ran headlong into the waves to join the fun.

  Kate put her hands on Drake’s shoulders and shoved, but he didn’t move. “You must be stronger than me, Emma. I can’t dunk him.”

  “We’ll help you. Come on, Phoebe.” Both girls leaped on top of their uncle, and his head went under the waves again.

  Kate grinned at the girls. “Good job.” The words were barely out of her mouth when a hand grabbed her ankle and yanked her under the water. His hand came around her waist, and a shiver raced up her spine at his touch. It took all her strength not to turn and shift closer. What was it about this man that moved her? She’d thought she was immune to attraction this overpowering. For the first time she realized how strong physical attraction could be.

  She shook free of his touch and shot for the top of the waves. His head bobbed up behind her. His crooked grin told her he’d felt something in that moment too. It was pure craziness. Even if she wanted to, she’d never fit in the world where he lived. And she didn’t want to try. Claire was here, and so was Kate’s entire life. She didn’t want to change it for anyone.

  “Time for lunch.” She turned and walked through the waves toward the shore.

  Shivering as the wind hit her wet skin, she reached the cloth and grabbed her cover-up. The warmth of the terry cloth enveloped her, but her shaking didn’t stop. It was from being so close to Drake. Maybe she should quit this job. Nothing good was going to come from an attraction this powerful.

  Drake rubbed a towel over his hair and wet skin. His cell phone rang, and he glanced at the screen, then swiped it on. “Hello, Lakesha. Yes, I’ve been working on the modifications.” He listened a moment. “Okay, let me give him a call. Text me his number.” He ended the call and frowned.

  “Trouble?

  He shook his head. “Not really. She wants me to call the assistant director and let him know how I plan to modify the drone. I’ll do it when we get home. I wish this issue hadn’t come up right now. It’s hard to stay focused when I want to find a killer, but my business needs attention too.” He sighed. “And I want the girls to know they are a top priority for me.”

  “You’re juggling everything, but the girls seem to be settling in well.” She bent over the picnic basket and began to unload it away from Jackson’s interested sniffs. Nothing made her as hungry as swimming. Lobster rolls, coleslaw, Jell-O squares for the kids, and fruit salad would fill the void in their bellies. She frowned when she felt something in the lining of the basket. Though she hadn’t checked the pocket when she was packing the lunch, there shouldn’t have been anything inside. She reached into the slit and touched cardboard.

  The sunlight hit the candy box, and she dropped it and stepped back.

  “What’s wrong?” Drake frowned as he reached her side.

  She stared at the brown box of DeBrand truffles. “Did you pack those?”

  “I didn’t pack anything.” He stooped and picked up the box. “These look like premium chocolates.”

  “They are.” Her lips felt numb. “No one knows they are my favorite. I had them once when a tourist from Indiana stopped at our blueberry market and traded them for blueberries. They’re a local Indiana brand, made in Fort Wayne. You never find them here. Someone would have had to order them.”

  “You think your uncle put them there?”

  She clutched herself and nodded. Hoping for reassurance, she stared up into Drake’s face. “It had to have been Uncle Paul. No one else would know.” Jackson whined and pressed against her as if sensing she was upset.

  “I think we’d better have Gwen help you figure out who else you might have told.”

  TWENTY-SIX

  Ellsworth Police Station, about half an hour west of Summer Harbor, was a big brick structure that sat on a small hill. Kate’s stomach ached as they were guided down a tiled hallway to a small conference room. Claire was being interviewed after her, but she stayed behind in a waiting room. The room was occupied by only the sheriff and a wo
man dressed in a well-cut jacket and slacks. Her short blonde hair held a bit of a wave, and her only makeup was lip gloss. Sleek metal chairs upholstered in burgundy surrounded a long conference table.

  The woman held Kate’s gaze for a moment, then held out her hand. “Gwen Marcey. Please call me Gwen.”

  Kate liked her warm, confident manner and relaxed a bit. “Kate Mason. Thanks for taking time to meet with us today.”

  Drake extended his hand. “Drake Newham.”

  “Sheriff Colton explained the situation, and I am happy to help.” She gestured to the table. “Have a seat and we’ll get started.” She sat in the chair opposite Kate, and the sheriff sat next to her. “I read the police report as well.”

  Kate settled onto a padded seat and forced herself to unclench her fists. There was nothing to fear from this nice woman, and maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to remember something that helped. Drake settled beside her.

  “I’d like for you to share with me what happened. Please start at the beginning and don’t leave anything out, even if you don’t think it’s important.” Gwen took out a sketch pad and began to doodle on it. “Can you first tell me what you remember of that day?”

  “Of course.” Kate started with the first sight of the body, then the realization that there were two bodies.

  “That had to have been traumatic.” Gwen reached across the table and touched Kate’s hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  “I don’t like thinking about it. I jumped into the water and tried to move to the cliff walls, but the sea is really strong right there. There’s no breakwater or anything. I swallowed water, and Claire yanked me out and wouldn’t let me go back in.”

  “I didn’t know you jumped in,” Drake said.

  She glanced at him. “I couldn’t help them though, so it really didn’t matter.”

  Gwen frowned at him. “Please don’t interrupt. It’s important that we don’t stop the flow of her thoughts.” Her gaze landed on Kate again. “Everything matters. Even a tiny detail can lead to something else that you’ve forgotten. Let’s back up now. What did you have for breakfast that day?”