Chapter 4
Burke could barely keep up with Abby as she plunged through the overgrown yard, up the narrow driveway, and through the mansion’s front door. But he did his best and entered the library moments after she skidded to a stop just inside the door.
She looked down at the sleeping homeowner. “Mr. Lemoine? Wake up. We have news to share.”
The older gentleman stirred and grumbled but dropped back to sleep. His chest rose and fell, his lips flapping as he breathed.
“Victor! Victor!” She stepped closer as if she wanted to shake him awake, but her hands remained curled at her sides. “If he wasn’t breathing, I’d think he was dead.”
At the small, circular table near Victor’s chair, Burke pointed at the near-empty brandy snifter. When he last saw the glass, it had held a healthy measure of liquor. “He’s probably sleeping it off.”
“I could see where one of those would make him drowsy, but knock him out like this?”
“Older folks can’t handle alcohol like younger ones. If he’s not a regular drinker, this amount might’ve left him out cold.”
Abby’s shoulders sagged as if the air had gone out of her. “I’ll leave him a note and tell him I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
“Remember, this is my crime scene. Until I say otherwise, I haven’t decided if you have a role in this investigation.”
Abby straightened. “Unless you cordon off the whole property with crime scene tape, I have every right to enter the building. With or without your permission.”
He liked her feisty personality, but not when directed at him, and he couldn’t let her interfere with the investigation. “After finding the locket in the greenhouse, not only will my deputies cordon off the mansion, but I’ll instruct them to include the entire property in the perimeter.”
She cocked her head. “And here I thought since we were getting along so well you’d gotten over this whole jurisdiction thing.”
“As I told you, I need time to think about it.”
“If you knew me, you’d know I don’t plan to one-up you or take over your investigation. I only want to cooperate and be of assistance while also being included in the findings. I’m just not the kind of person you seem to think I am.”
She didn’t have to tell him that. Not when he’d experienced her integrity firsthand.
Even as a sheriff in an agency other than his, she was always ready and willing to lend a hand.
Always positive with her staff, lifting and building them up.
Not taking credit when goals were achieved, but giving them their due.
Still, he couldn’t do what she wanted. Not yet. “I’m not worried about you one-upping me, but I won’t jump into making a decision without giving it careful consideration.”
The frustration in her expression melted. “And how long will it take for you to decide?”
“I’ll have an answer to you by morning.”
She gave a sharp nod. “There’s nothing else we can do until Victor wakes up. Figure he’s out for the night. We should take off so you can start thinking about our potential partnership.”
“Go ahead and wait for me at the boat while I give my deputies instructions.”
“Will do, after I write Victor a note.” She lifted her chin as if she thought he might argue. “I assume I can tell him at least one deputy will be assigned to protect the scene and him.”
“I’ll have a couple of deputies on site overnight, but with an active murder investigation going on in my department, I’m not sure how many resources we can spare.”
“See, this is a perfect opportunity for our team to help. We’re trained in proper procedures and have the ability to help you maintain scene integrity.”
“Duly noted.” She made a good point, several in fact, but he still wouldn’t decide anything without thinking it through. He’d been a detective for years and was used to making snap decisions on the job.
But in his personal life? Not so much. Being raised in a religiously strict household, where his parents equated his every fault and mistake to sin and punished him for it, had left him afraid to make a mistake.
He’d never totally outgrown that way of thinking.
And since his fiancée and partner betrayed him, decision making had become even more difficult.
Especially when he had so much weighing on making the right decision.
He swallowed. “Go ahead and write the note, then meet me outside.”
“I saw paper and a pen in the office.” She exited the room.
Good. Alone at last. Able to think clearly. Something he struggled to do when she was near. Before he left, he would take a quick look to see if he’d let his distraction stop him from seeing something important.
He went straight for the hidden compartment and checked the other shelves to make sure nothing else was hidden here.
Everything seemed to be in order, but hopefully a good forensics tech would catch anything he missed.
Another decision he had to make. He liked the idea of using one of the people Abby recommended.
In either event, he would get quality work done.
Given their solid rep, the Veritas Center would’ve screened and trained all of their staff, and Gage Blackwell’s reputation said he wouldn’t hire anyone who wasn’t at the top of their game.
Question was, would Ryder go for either one of these options or would he insist on using state forensic techs? Only one way to find out. Talk to him. Burke would do that as soon as he reached the mainland again.
He finished searching the perimeter and stopped by Victor’s chair. “Victor? Are you awake, Victor?”
The man didn’t stir. If anything, he snored louder.
Shaking his head, Burke went outside and made his way to Deputy Ewing, who was standing near the doorway. Burke gave a quick rundown of everything they’d found, making sure not to say the word crown.
“I’m heading back to home base,” he said. “You and your partner stay here. Lock down the perimeter—entire property.”
Deputy Ewing raised an eyebrow. “The whole thing?”
“That’s right. We’ll need daylight and additional personnel to process this scene properly.
First thing in the morning, I’ll schedule reinforcements to relieve you.
Until then, once the perimeter’s secured, plant yourself at the base of the stairs.
No one gets through unless you clear it with me personally. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Ewing replied.
“That also goes for Abby Day. No one gets in. Including her or anyone on her team. Don’t ask. Don’t second-guess. They’re not authorized. End of story.”
Abby gasped from behind him. He cringed. She’d heard his orders.
After their earlier conflict, he hated to upset her more, but the truth was, he had a job to do, and nothing would pull him from it.
Not her, not anyone. Respect for her or not, he would keep moving forward.
Still, those warm brown eyes had a way of throwing him off balance, making him want to forget the hard lesson he’d already learned about trusting women.
No. He couldn’t forget their duplicitous behavior. Wouldn’t forget such a thing. Not ever.
Abby couldn’t believe the silent treatment she was getting from Burke.
Not a word. Not a single word uttered since they took seats near each other in the boat for their ride back to civilization.
Nor did he apologize for so forcefully instructing his deputy to keep her and her team off Victor’s property.
She should just accept the silence, but the only way she wouldn’t stew about it all night was if she hashed it out with him. “After the way you so strongly instructed your deputy to keep us away from the crime scene, I thought it might be a good idea to talk a little more about working together.”
He swiveled his seat to face her. “I didn’t mean anything personal by it.”
“It sure feels like it—you thinking the worst of me all the time and not giving me the benefit of the doubt.”
He didn’t answer for a long moment, but stared over her shoulder. “I’m sorry about that.”
“I appreciate you recognizing it and apologizing, but the big question is, how can we avoid it in the future?”
“You don’t need to do anything.” He leaned forward, his arms on his knees.
“Look, the guy you’ve met so far isn’t the man I want to be, and I sure don’t want to act like this.
But there’s something about you that gets under my skin.
I’m not saying it’s your fault. It’s all on me.
I’m still attracted to you, but I don’t have room in my life for such a distraction, and it makes me mad that I can’t get control of it. ”
He needed to be in control. No secret to her. She’d seen the same trait in him before, but it was more exaggerated now. He was a man who was assertive about the way he felt and the way he wanted things, and quick to react when it didn’t go his way.
A personality she avoided at all costs. Reminded her too much of her family of pushy defense attorneys—both her parents and three siblings. All who looked down on her for her career choice, never missing a moment to jab her about it. For her own mental health, she’d had to walk away.
The consequences of her decision broke her heart.
Unfortunately, her mother died unexpectedly a little over a year ago, and Abby hadn’t had a chance to reconcile with her before then.
But Burke appeared to be different from her family.
He recognized his behavior, at least when it came to this issue, and seemed to want to change.
Big questions were, could he recognize it in other situations and actually change?
Only time would tell, and he wasn’t the only one to blame for their current situation.