Chapter 4 Lori #2
“Oh. Right. I’m sorry,” Clara said apologetically. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your morning.”
“It’s okay,” Lori told her. “At least now I can put a face to your name. Tessa did tell me you’d come to Seabird Cottage to ask about using the beach.”
“Yes, and thank you for letting me,” Clara told her before stepping back.
“Well, don’t let me keep you. Enjoy your walk.
” Her cheerfulness returned as quickly as it had faded upon learning Ryan was engaged.
“It was nice seeing you again, Tessa.” Then she turned toward Lori, and there was something in her expression that made Lori’s skin prickle.
The smile seemed different now, a little wooden, a little forced.
And her eyes had a quality to them that Lori couldn’t quite identify.
“I’m glad we finally met, Chief Ware.” There was an odd emphasis on the word “finally” that Lori didn’t understand.
They said their goodbyes and continued down the beach. Lori glanced back once and saw that Clara had returned to the rocks, crouching among the tide pools again with her notebook.
“Why didn’t you correct her when she thought I was Carrie?” Lori asked once they were well out of earshot. “Now she thinks I’m your mother.”
Tessa shrugged and blew out a breath. “I really didn’t want to get into it with Clara.
” She shook her head, pulling a face. “There is just something about that woman. She’s so icky sweet and a little overbearing.
If I’d corrected her, we would have been stuck there for another twenty minutes while she asked a million questions about who you are and why you’re here and what your connection to the family is.
” She visibly shuddered. “The woman is just so… so… you know, one of those kids that always got picked last for everything at school.”
“Tessa!” Lori exclaimed, though she couldn’t help but laugh a little at Tessa’s candid assessment. “I think she’s probably just a little lonely. She’s here alone for her research, living in a rental cottage. It must be isolating.”
She glanced back again. Clara was still on the rocks, but now she was just sitting, staring out at the sea with her notebook forgotten in her lap.
“What does she do again?” Lori asked. “And why is she using the beach specifically?”
“Something about birds migrating,” Tessa said vaguely. “She’s a bird writer or studies them or something like that.”
“So she’s tracking migratory patterns of seabirds,” Lori guessed.
“Yes!” Tessa exclaimed, as if relieved to have the right terminology. “That’s right. That’s exactly what she said she was doing. Writing a book about it or something.”
Lori nodded. That made sense. It explained the early mornings, the constant presence on the beach, the notebook, and the sketches. All perfectly legitimate reasons to be in the area.
But there was still something about that look in Clara’s eyes when she’d said, “I’m glad we finally met, Chief Ware.” The emphasis on “finally” had sounded almost like...what? A warning? A threat?
Lori shook it off. She really was becoming paranoid, seeing threats in every stranger, reading meaning into innocent words. Clara was just an enthusiastic nature writer who happened to be a little socially awkward. Nothing more sinister than that. Just a little… geeky.
They continued walking, the conversation drifting to easier topics.
Tessa asked about Lori’s paintings, and Lori asked about Tessa’s morning meeting with her client.
They talked about Maggie and whether she’d be able to visit before the summer ended.
They talked about Carrie and how she was doing in Florida.
They’d been walking for another ten minutes when Tessa suddenly went quiet. Lori glanced at her and saw that Tessa’s expression had changed, becoming troubled and uncertain.
“Is everything okay, sweetheart?” Lori asked.
“I need to tell you something,” Tessa said, her voice tight. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I should have come to you first, but I panicked and rushed to Mitch instead.”
Lori’s stomach dropped. “What is it?”
Tessa stopped walking and turned to face her fully. “When you told me about Barstow Security this morning, I recognized the name. Not just because they have a reputation in legal circles, but because I’ve seen it before. In documents related to your late husband’s company.”
Lori felt the world tilt slightly. “What?”
“Trevor’s firm contracted with Barstow Security about two years ago,” Tessa said, the words coming out in a rush now.
“I have access to a lot of the company records because of the legal work I’ve been doing for you and the other victims of the Stanstead fraud.
I saw the contract when I was reviewing financial documents.
At the time, I didn’t think much of it. Security firms get hired for all kinds of legitimate reasons. ”
“But now?” Lori prompted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Now we know that Sally Lane also hired Barstow Security,” Tessa said. “And the agent assigned to both cases was the same person.”
“Elias Dane,” Lori said, the name feeling heavy in her mouth.
“Yes. The windbreaker guy. The same man you and I have both seen watching the cottage. The same man who’s been surveilling Pelican Bay.
” Tessa’s eyes were full of worry and guilt.
“Lori, I’m so sorry. I should have told you immediately this morning instead of panicking and running to Mitch.
But I thought he should know, and I didn’t want to scare you until we knew more. ”
Lori stood there on the beach, the waves crashing beside her, the sun warm on her face, and felt everything click into place with horrible clarity.
This was about her.
Whether it was connected to Sally Lane’s jealousy or to Trevor’s company’s involvement with Barstow Security and the Stanstead investigation, the common denominator was clear.
She was the target.
She was the reason Elias Dane was here. She was the reason someone had broken into Seabird Cottage. She was the reason Mitch had been attacked on the beach and left unconscious with a head injury.
She was putting everyone in danger.
Mitch, who’d already been hurt because of this. Piper, Mitch, Tessa, and Ryan were all at risk because of her.
“Lori?” Tessa’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. “Are you okay? You’ve gone pale.”
“I need to leave,” Lori heard herself say. The words came out flat, emotionless, as her mind worked through the implications. “I need to go back to Florida or… or somewhere else.” Her eyes searched Tessa’s. “If I leave, whoever this is will follow me. They’ll leave all of you alone.”
“Lori, no—”
“Yes,” Lori cut her off, her voice stronger now. “Don’t you see? This is about me. Regardless of whether it’s about Sally or Trevor’s company, I’m the connection. I’m the one bringing danger to Pelican Bay. To your mother’s home. To Mitch and Piper.” She pointed to Tessa. “To you and Ryan…”
“We don’t know that for certain,” Tessa argued. “We don’t know enough yet to—”
“We know enough,” Lori said firmly. She looked at Tessa, saw the worry and the guilt there, and felt her own heart breaking. “I came here to heal. To find peace after losing Trevor. Instead, I’ve brought nothing but trouble to people I care about.”
Mitch and Piper had been nothing but kind and accommodating since she’d gotten here. Tessa had been nothing but supportive and caring.
Lori was repaying all that kindness by putting them in danger.
“We need to go back to the cottage,” Lori said, already turning to head back the way they’d come. “I need to talk to Mitch. I need to tell him I’m leaving before anyone else gets hurt.”
“Lori, please,” Tessa said, hurrying to keep up. “Don’t make any decisions right now. Let’s talk to Mitch and Marcus first. Let’s find out what they’ve learned. We need all the information before we—”
But Lori was barely listening. Her mind was already made up.
She’d spent her whole life trying not to be a burden, trying not to cause trouble, trying to make things easier for the people around her.
She’d failed at that with Trevor, never knowing about the dangerous investigation he was conducting, never being there to help when he needed her.
She wouldn’t fail at it now.
If leaving meant keeping Mitch, Piper, Ryan, and Tessa safe, that’s what she would do.
No matter how much it hurt.
“Lori, stop,” Tessa’s voice cracked through the air. “Think this through. Even if you leave, we are still targets. This Elias Dane might follow you. But what if this isn’t about Sally?”
Tessa’s words struck her, and Lori’s breath caught in her throat.
“If this is about the Stansteads…” Tessa’s voice was calm, controlled, and her eyes narrowed. “Even if you run, they aren’t going to let us get off free. We’ll just get used as bait for you.”
Lori’s heart jumped into her throat as she thought of Katy Marshall. A young woman who had gotten caught up in the battle of Stanstead had paid with her life.
Lori closed her eyes. Tessa was right. She couldn’t run from this. Lori had to stay and fight beside everyone who was trying to help and protect her.