Chapter 10
Natalie fidgeted, her thoughts racing as she waited for Trent. More than once, she got all the way to the locked door before remembering her promise. Sitting still was impossible. Desperate, she fiddled with the wire, wrapping it into whatever shape her fingers chose.
One minute in, she was sure she heard footsteps outside, but nothing showed up on the security camera or triggered the motion sensor lights.
Inching toward the door, she listened, trying to see something.
The only movement came from the shadows of palms swaying in the breeze.
Sidling back toward the counter, she pulled the meat mallet from the drawer.
She and her sisters always joked it was the best weapon in the kitchen. No way she’d go down without a fight.
The security panel near the door glowed as someone entered the code outside. Please be Trent. Please be Trent. Her hand tightened on the mallet handle and she tucked herself low against the countertop. If needed, with a little luck, she could take out a knee before the intruder spotted her.
The lock hummed and the door eased open. “Natalie? It’s me.”
The breath whooshed out of her. Relieved, she rushed him, throwing her arms around his shoulders, forgetting about the mallet in her hand. It thudded against his back. “Sorry. Are you okay?”
“What is that?” He closed and locked the door before nudging her back into the kitchen to turn on the light.
“Meat mallet.” She slid it back into the drawer. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” His gaze raked her head to toe. “Good thinking.”
“Thanks. Did you find out what’s going on over there?” She scanned every inch of him, head to toe and back up again. She didn’t see any signs of a fight, only damp spots on the knees of his pants from the soft ground.
“Better stop looking at me like that.”
His amusement caught her off guard and she felt her cheeks flame. “Seriously, Trent.” She had to pause for a breath, his grin was that lethal. “What happened out there?”
She could practically see him weighing how much to tell her.
Sagging back against the counter he stared at his feet for a long moment before meeting her gaze.
“I was out there looking for the man I’m hunting.
He’s calling the shots for a gang of thieves specializing in boats and high-end boating gear. ”
“That’s why you were asking me about all the folks around here.” Regret was clear in his brusque nod, but she wasn’t bothered. “It’s hard to believe I might know someone capable of what you’re suggesting.”
“It gets worse. He killed two people that we know of and…” His voice trailed off as he scrubbed at his face.
“And? Don’t leave me hanging.”
On a gusty sigh, he pulled out his phone. “And he’s threatening others. Including you.”
She reared back. “Me? That’s not funny. How would he even know about me?” Hearing the fear in her voice, she snapped her mouth closed.
Eyes on his phone, he said, “I’m going to show you a group of photos. Let me know if you recognize anyone.”
“Okay.” She seemed rooted to the floor, grateful when he set the phone on the island in front of her. Three faces stared back at her. Men with grim, flat expressions. Mug shots, she realized. “No.”
“You can enlarge if necessary.”
The idea held little appeal. “None of these men look familiar.”
“All right.” Trent reached out and swiped the screen and another trio of male faces appeared. “Anyone?”
She was ready to dismiss this group as well when one face—a man with dark hair, sharp cheekbones and hard brown eyes—stood out.
She picked up the phone and enlarged the image as she struggled to remember where she’d seen that face.
“The sail cloth,” she blurted. “This man,” she turned the phone to Trent, “he was near the marina when I picked up the sail cloth from Miles’s workshop.
In a red kayak. I think Corey might’ve been out there to meet him. ”
“Corey?”
She nodded. “He’s a mechanic at the marina repair shop. We’re friendly, but not really friends. He donates odd parts and leftovers for me to work with. The guy in the picture must be a customer.”
“No. Not a customer.” Trent was texting a message to someone. He looked up, a weak smile melting into a thoughtful frown. “Or not just a customer. You’ve confirmed Frank Royer, wanted for grand theft and murder, is in this area.”
Unease danced across the back of her neck. “So go arrest him.”
“I wish it was that easy. Royer was at the construction site tonight. I overheard him talking with someone—maybe Corey. About you.”
“Me?” she squeaked. “No way.” This was ridiculous. She took a deep breath. “I don’t know him. Don’t know anything about him.”
“Then I’ll fill you in,” Trent said, moving closer. “He’s cagey. Ruthless about control. He doesn’t leave loose ends.”
“But I don’t know anything.” It took everything she had to hold her ground rather than burrow into Trent’s strength.
“You saw him. That’s enough as far as he’s concerned.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “He was grilling his accomplice about where you work. Could Corey be the local accomplice?”
“No.” She felt the room spin, gripping the counter for balance.
“He’s my friend.” Everyone on the island knew where she worked, where to find her on any given day.
She considered herself well-liked. The only person with a motive was her ex.
She’d made her feelings about him—and his presence in Brookwell—more than clear.
“That’s one reason I had to sit back and wait,” Trent continued. “Whoever was out there with Royer was lying to him, but I couldn’t risk moving on the two of them and leaving you undefended.”
Undefended. Her stomach rolled. Trent made it sound as if she was in real danger. “Wait? You said the guy was lying?”
“Yeah, whoever it was out there told Royer you teach art at a school in Charleston.”
That didn’t make any sense. “We have to warn them.” She reached for her phone, but who should she call?
“Tell someone.” First, she’d cancel her next in-person classes.
Maybe she could change the plan to a virtual guest lecture.
She refused to put anyone at risk if a man capable of murder was tracking her. Not children. Not her family either.
Oh no. Did this other person tell a killer where she lived? Not that it would be hard to find out. Somehow, she’d put her sisters in jeopardy. “I need to go.”
“Natalie.” Trent’s large hands covered her trembling grip on her phone. “Listen to me.” The warmth and gentle pressure eased the sharp, leading edge of fear. “It’s already handled. Jess and the Guardian Agency team in Chicago are working up solutions.”
She stared into his calm, confident gaze. “Okay.”
“Take a breath.”
She did. Then another. “What do you need me to do?”
“First, trust me.”
Done. “Okay.” No doubt in her heart or mind about that. She trusted Trent.
“Second, you’ll need to stay here tonight.”
She shook her head. “What if this Royer-person looks for me at Roni’s house?”
“Jess is sending someone to keep watch. After what I overheard, I think he’s left the island or is focused on finding a new hiding place tonight.”
“And tomorrow?” She suppressed a shiver. Every good thing she took for granted now felt dark and dangerous. Would she be safe anywhere on the island?
“We’ll deal with it when it gets here.” He glanced at the clock on the oven. “Or in a few hours, since it’s past midnight. Right now, we both need some rest. Want me to call Jess? She could bring clothing or whatever else you might need.”
Natalie appreciated his thoughtfulness. “No thanks. As long as we can go by the house early tomorrow.”
“Sure.” He touched her shoulder. “You’re handling this like a champ.”
She swallowed a laugh. She was closer to terrified than amused.
“I reserve the right to have a meltdown.” Any minute in fact.
She shrugged, uncertain of her next move.
“And don’t worry, I might get lost in my work, but I can pack in a hurry.
I won’t delay your search.” She refused to be a burden in any capacity.
For too much of her life she’d felt as if her day-dreamy, whimsical tendencies held back those around her, especially her sisters.
Trent was already shaking his head. “Not worried. If needed, I can search alone, as long as you’re safe at the office with Jess.”
He’d emphasized the dangers of the man he was searching for and yet she discovered she wanted in on the action.
“I’d rather stick with you.” She could make lesson plans and handle other tasks in Jess’s office, but she’d get antsy if she was tucked away from her sculpting for too long.
Focusing on helping Trent was the best distraction she could think of.
“This is serious, Natalie.”
“So you’ve said. At this point, I’m more concerned for any and all art teachers in Charleston. You don’t think he’d just attack someone without verifying they aren’t me?”
“He’s too careful to make a mistake like that. I do believe he’ll have someone searching for you.”
She couldn’t suppress the shiver this time.
Turning away, she tried to find a different option, a choice that gave her some semblance of control.
It didn’t come to her. She had to trust Trent’s expertise, at least for tonight.
“I’ll stay the night.” She couldn’t bear the thought of going back home alone or leading anyone straight to her sisters.
Pulling out her phone, she texted her sisters.
“Should you call? Won’t they worry?”
“At this hour a call would be more upsetting,” she said. “They’ll see the text when they get up and it’ll be fine. My sisters are used to me going dark when the muse has me by the throat.”
“You told them you’re working?”
“I’m not about to tell them anything serious in a text thread. You said Jess has someone in place at the house.” At his nod, she shrugged. “Then I trust her. And you.” The less her sisters knew about this, the better. “It’ll be fine.”
Had to be. She couldn’t bear any other outcome.
“Where do they think you sleep?”
“Well, if this really were an artistic-muse issue, I wouldn’t sleep until it was done.
That’s what they’ll think.” The consternation on his face made her smile.
“Would you rather protect me at Roni’s place?
” Poor Trent. Clearly dismayed, he rubbed the back of his neck as he considered the offer.
“Relax. I didn’t mean it. Celeste and Roni would be as uncomfortable as you look if I showed up with you and suggested you were staying. ”
The tension melted out of him. “Even if we told them why?”
She flicked a hand. “I don’t expect to bring home another man. Fool me once and all that.” She didn’t want to rehash her errors with her ex-husband. “It took too long to earn back their respect after Jackson.”
“All right.” He rolled his broad shoulders and her mouth watered. Despite everything, her attraction kept heating up. “Let’s get some rest.” He turned for the stairs. “You can have the bed.”
She stopped short. Did he mean they’d share a room? No way. Too much temptation. “There are other bedrooms.” Including the suite off the kitchen Celeste used to call home when they’d started with a traditional B&B approach. “Isn’t it okay to be in the same house?”
Pausing, one foot on the first step, his eyebrows lifted. “The woman who was about to break into a construction office is afraid of sleeping in the same room as me?”
Little bit, yeah. “Of course not,” she bluffed, forcing her feet forward. “I just don’t understand why we need to share.”
“Because a killer is too interested in your whereabouts. Until he’s in custody, we stick together. I’m not taking any chances with you.”
Knowing he was right didn’t make her any more comfortable with it as she started up the stairs.
“Natalie,” his voice, so tender, warmed her from the inside out. “I will find him. We’ll sort this out in record time.”
She hoped so. Because once the danger passed, she was curious about what might develop between them on a personal level.
At the top of the stairs, she lingered, meeting his gaze directly thanks to the advantage of the higher step.
“I believe you. I also believe in good rest.” She inched away before she let herself kiss him again.
“You’re security, I’m hospitality. And in my official capacity, the Hargrave Hideaway is happy to upgrade you to the room with two beds. ”