Beyond a Doubt

  Mason got out of his car. “Where was he?”

  “There.” Bree showed him where the man had tussled with Samson, and while he probed she unloaded her Jeep. The cracking of the ice had intensified and sounded ominous in the warm spring air.

  “Found a few cigarette butts, nothing much,” Mason reported a few minutes later. “I’ll have a deputy keep an eye out. Sounds like he’s wanting to scare you more than anything.”

  “He’s doing a good job of it,” she said. She told Mason about the call.

  He scowled. “I’ll have a tap put on your phone. We’ll find him. Try not to worry.”

  She nodded. Focusing on Quentin Siller was something she was determined not to do. She wouldn’t let fear take control of her. God was in charge, not Quentin. God would watch over her and Davy. She had to cling to that knowledge.

  “Any news about the skeleton?”

  “I took a look at the leather book. It’s a lighthouse keeper’s journal. A man named Peter Thorrington. I’m trying to see what I can find about Thorrington now.”

  “Did you read all of it?”

  “Yeah, but it’s no help. It just documents details about the running of the lighthouse.”

  “You think the skeleton is Thorrington?”

  “Maybe. It makes sense. We’ll see.” He pressed her shoulder. “I’ll have a man watch the house tonight. I’ll mosey around outside until you lock up.”

  Bree went inside and locked the house then waved to Mason from the window to let him know everything was all right. She closed the blinds and put on a Twila Paris CD that Anu had given her for Christmas. Just this morning she’d read in the Bible, in the book of Philippians, that she should focus on things that are true and good and praiseworthy. She’d give it a try.

  8

  The weather had broken, and melted snow ran like new creeks from the roads and heaped snowdrifts. The town paper’s article about the discovery of the remains in Bree’s basement was picked up by the state papers on Tuesday. Both motels in Rock Harbor were filled with reporters.

  On Wednesday, Kade stopped over at the Kitchigami SAR Training Center to check on Bree. She was outside with Naomi and four students with their dogs. Bree’s new training center was a pole building about thirty by thirty feet that sat in a tract of land surrounded by woods. The lake behind the building was perfect for water-search training. It had been open only since the first of the year, but Bree already had some good students. Kade ran his window down and watched for a while.

  “Take your dogs around back where they can’t see,” Bree instructed. “Cassie, you stay here. You can be the victim today.”

  Kade had never seen the woman Bree called Cassie. She stood off by herself as though she didn’t want anyone to talk to her. Dressed in army boots and fatigues, she wore her blond hair short and curly like Bree’s.

  The rest of the students took the dogs around the building. Cassie got in what Kade had been told was a scratch box, a rough wooden box with a guillotine-type door. Bree dropped the door into position. Carrying a bag with the scent article, she went around the corner.

  Kade grinned and stretched out his legs. He never got tired of watching the dogs work. He couldn’t make out what Bree was saying, but he’d watched often enough to get the gist of it. The dogs were smelling the scent article, and the students would release each dog individually and see how long it took them to find Cassie in the box.

  He heard a bark, then Charley, Naomi’s golden retriever, came racing around the corner. He drove straight for the scratch box, jumping up on it and barking. He grabbed a stick on the ground then carried it to Naomi with his tail held high in triumph. Naomi praised him, rubbing his ears.

  Each of the dogs got a chance. Zorro took the longest, nosing around the meadow nearly five minutes before catching the air scent. All the dogs eventually found Cassie. Kade got out of the car and strolled toward the group.

  “Good dog,” Naomi said, rubbing Zorro’s head. “One of these days Lauri and Zorro will be as famous as Bree and Samson.”

  Kade didn’t miss the expression of gratitude on his sister’s face at Naomi’s praise for Zorro. Naomi slung her arm around the girl’s shoulders, and they walked over to await Bree’s final instructions.

  While Bree was talking, Samson ambled over to meet Kade, and he ruffled the dog’s ears. Too bad Davy didn’t show this much excitement when Kade came over. He wondered if the little boy was napping inside the building. When Bree finished giving the class instructions for the underwater cadaver search that would be done on the weekend, she dismissed everyone. Naomi and Lauri walked off together. Kade tried not to be hurt by the way his sister ignored him.

  Bree smiled when she saw him. “I noticed your truck.”

  “I like to watch you work,” he said. “Where’s Davy?”

  “Hilary took him out for lunch.” She nodded toward a television van parked across the road with a camera trained on her. “These reporters are driving me crazy. Who would have thought old bones would generate so much attention?”

  Kade linked arms with her, and they turned toward the building. “It’s because of the lighthouse connection. It brings to mind spooky old buildings, pirates, and buried treasure. Unsolved murders are always interesting. I’m fascinated myself.”

  “So they’re saying it’s murder now? Has Mason announced that officially? I haven’t talked to him today.”

  Kade shrugged. “Mason just says it’s suspicious, though the forensics team hasn’t reported back yet. He told me there was a report that the last lighthouse keeper disappeared. That’s when the light was shut down. No one ever learned what happened to him.”

  “Peter Thorrington,” Bree said.

  “How do you know?”

  “Remember that leather book? It was Thorrington’s lighthouse journal. Nothing of interest in it, Mason says.”

  Kade took her arm and they went toward the SAR center. Inside the building, Bree moved over by the window and settled cross-legged on the floor beside Samson. Samson yawned, then moved over to plop his head on her lap. She absently played with his ears, and the dog gave a sigh of contentment. Kade could understand it; he’d like to be in Samson’s place. She picked up a brush and began to work it through the burrs in his coat.

  Bree sighed heavily. “I’m exhausted.”

  Bree looked beat. Dark circles bloomed under her eyes, and the flesh around them looked puffy. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

  “Not much. Davy had another nightmare. Easter was so busy, and I think he’s remembering more and more of his daddy.”

  Kade winced inwardly. Bree was dealing with so much, though he knew she didn’t begrudge her son one minute of the attention he needed. “Want to go to the movies with me and Lauri Friday?”

  She finally looked up and met his gaze. “You’re taking her out?”

  “Yep. She wasn’t what I’d call overly excited, but at least she agreed to go. I had to bribe her with shopping, though.” He laughed, but the fact hurt. Two years ago she was pestering him to take her to the movies all the time.

  “I’d better stay out of the picture. You need this time alone together. Besides, I hardly think she’d like to see the new Disney film Davy wants to see.”

  She probably was right. Lauri would probably take Bree’s presence as another sign she wasn’t important to him. He glanced at his watch. “I guess I’d better get going.”

  She pushed Samson off her lap and stood, brushing the hair from her jeans. “Let me know how it goes, okay?”

  A well of deep longing took him by surprise. He reached out and tucked a red-gold curl behind her ear then traced his fingers along her jaw line. Her green eyes darkened at his touch, and he leaned forward and embraced her. The light scent she wore, something woodsy and enticing, slipped up his nose in a heady rush. Her head nestled against his chest at just the right height.

  He kissed the top of her head. Times like these were too few and far between. “I’ve missed you,” he wh
ispered. “Seems like lately we haven’t had time to say two words to each other. Can we plan a date soon, just the two of us?”

  Her head nodded against his chest. “I’d like that.”

  He pulled away, then touched his fingers to her chin, tilting her lips up to meet his. The kiss was warm and undemanding, and he kept his love for her tightly in check, though it was getting more difficult all the time. Kade knew in his heart that they belonged together. They were just waiting on timing.

  Releasing her, he turned toward the door still holding her hand. “Pray for us.”

  “Always,” she said.

  Kade spent the next two days working on the baby-wildlife center. It was ready to receive its first occupants. Landorf drifted by on Friday morning to look it over.

  “Remember what I said,” he warned. “No animals other than endangered species.” Kade stopped forking hay into pens and pushed his hat back from his face. “I’d like to talk to you about that some more,” he said.

  “I’ve said all I’m going to say about it,” Landorf barked, stalking away.

  Watching him go, Kade realized he was going to have to make that phone call to Landorf’s superiors. Something had to be done. The wildlife-center project had been approved by Washington, and Landorf was set on squashing the plan.

  Kade worked all day, then went home to meet his sister. Lauri was waiting when he got to the cabin. Dressed in jeans with holes in the knees and a red sweatshirt, she looked about twelve. Love tightened Kade’s throat. She had no idea how important she was to him, but he could try to show her even if she refused to accept it.

  “You mean I get to take out the prettiest girl in Rock Harbor all by myself?” He grinned and handed her a tiny bouquet of flowers he’d bought at the florist on the way through town.

  Lauri looked at them as though they were some alien species. “What are you up to?” she asked, her eyebrows lifted in suspicion.

  Kade sighed. “Nothing, Lauri. I just wanted you to know how happy I am that you’re going to come with me today.”

  “You think I’m a thief and a juvenile delinquent who breaks into cabins,” she reminded him.

  “Can we just forget our fight and have a good time today?” He held on to his temper by a thread. She tossed her head and grabbed her coat, a fake fur thing that swathed her in fuzz and made her look even more like a little girl, though Kade knew better than to tell her so.

  “This is going to be a long night,” she muttered.

  Trying not to feel hurt was like rolling a snowball uphill: It could be done, but he had to be careful or the effort would overwhelm him. He buttoned his curt response and just smiled. “Where do you want to eat?” He held the door open for her.

  She shrugged. “I don’t care. I’m dieting.”

  He opened his mouth to tell her she was too thin then closed it again. She wouldn’t listen to him anyway. His throat tight, he followed her to the truck, and they drove to the Suomi Café in silence broken only by the radio blaring some music that was too mumbled to make out the words.

  His nerves were thrumming like drums by the time they reached town. Lauri ordered a chicken pasty, and he got a beef one. “We’re as predictable as heavy snow in January,” he remarked as Molly turned to go to the kitchen with their order.

  Lauri made a face and took a sip of her drink. Across from her in the booth, he watched the expressions on her face: boredom, disdain, maybe even a little fear. What could they talk about? He didn’t know how to reach her anymore. This was harder than he’d expected.

  “How was school this week?”

  “Fine.” She fiddled with her straw and looked out the window.

  “Where did you and Brian go last week?”

  She turned her head to glare at him. “What is this, twenty questions? If I’d known I was going to get the third degree, I wouldn’t have come.”

  He held up his hands. “Sorry. What would you like to talk about? I was just trying to make conversation.” Her wary expression softened, and he knew she’d been expecting him to come back at her with angry words.

  She shrugged. “Why don’t you like Brian?”

  Kade hesitated. He wanted peace with Laurie, but what good was that without honesty? “He’s not good enough for you.” What a cliché that sounded. But it was totally true. Brian Parker was trouble.

  “You think no boy is good enough. What’s wrong with him?”

  “He’s wild, he has too much money to blow, Dr. Parker doesn’t keep tabs on him at all, and he’s too old for you.”

  “He’s only eighteen!”

  “There’s a world of difference between sixteen and eighteen. I worry he’ll pressure you . . .” His voice trailed away. He wasn’t about to bring up sex with her.

  “To what? Sleep with him?” She blew her bangs out of her eyes with an exasperated huff. “So what?”

  His heart froze. “Are you saying you have?”

  “I’m not saying anything. You’re impossible!”

  Kade swallowed. “Talk to me, Lauri. Tell me how you’re feeling. Is Brian pushing you?” He longed to have the boy’s scrawny neck beneath his fingers. He’d teach him to leave Lauri alone.

  Lauri looked away, and Kade saw the indecision on her face, the longing to talk to him. Molly brought their food just as Lauri opened her mouth. She shut it again and looked down at her plate, her hands in her lap. The moment was lost. Kade stared at his plate, his appetite gone.

  He picked up his pasty and took a bite. It was as tasteless as clay. Lauri picked up hers as well, but before she bit into it, two young men stopped at their booth. In their early twenties, they had a hard look that made Kade wary.

  “Hey, Lauri, could you give Brian a message for me?” The oldest, a young man with sleepy eyes, thrust an envelope in her hand. “Here.”

  “Sure.” Lauri stuck it in her purse in such haste she nearly knocked over her soda.

  She avoided Kade’s gaze, and his uneasiness increased. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” Kade stood and held out his hand. “I’m Kade Matthews, Lauri’s brother.”

  “The ranger man?” The three exchanged handshakes. “How’s it goin’?” The pair backed away and turned toward the door without waiting for a reply. “See you around, Lauri.”

  What were they trying to hide? Kade’s thoughts turned again to the break-ins at the cabins. “What’s the note?”

  “Search me.”

  “I don’t want you in the middle of it, Lauri. I think you should let me see the note.”

  “No way!” Her blue eyes glittered with rage. “Stay out of my business, Kade!”

  “I can’t. I’m your brother and I love you.”

  “Then leave me alone.” She burst into tears.

  Her sobs unnerved Kade, and he finished his meal in silence.

  9

  The wheezy call of a phoebe came from the maple tree above Lauri’s head. Spring was her favorite time of year. The bleak hopelessness of winter usually melted away with the heavy snow cover, swelling the Kitchigami River to near flood levels. Green tips of wildflowers pushed through the brown carpet of matted, dead leaves. A trout splashed in the river as if in joyous wonder at the warm sun.

  Lauri sat on a large rock with Zorro at her feet. Everyone was here for training today: Eva Nardi, Lauri, Ryan Erickson, Cassie Hecko, Karen Siller, and Naomi.

  Zorro lay panting on the ground. Most of the dogs were off chasing rabbits. Bree had worked them hard today. Zorro was even too tired to chase the sparrow scrabbling in the leaves five feet away from his nose. Davy played with Samson, though the dog was too tired to do more than walk after the Frisbee the little boy tossed.

  “I have an extra candy bar if anyone wants one.” Lauri dug into her pocket and pulled out two Snickers bars.

  “I’ve got my pistachios,” Bree said. Shells lay around her like confetti.

  “I’ll take it,” Eva said. She grabbed the candy bar. She settled back against the tree trunk and munched her
candy in silence as usual.

  “You’re lucky you haven’t turned green, Bree,” Eva said. Blond and blue-eyed, Eva reminded Lauri of a Nordic goddess. Twenty-five and nearly six feet tall, she towered over Bree and Lauri. She stretched like a lazy cougar in the warmth, obviously relishing paramedic Ryan Erickson’s gaze on her.

  Eva had fascinated Lauri from the moment they met. She seemed so self-assured, so . . . everything Lauri would like to be. Lauri had been digging for information about her private life but so far had been unsuccessful. When anyone asked Eva about her family, she changed the subject.

  “She is green. She’s just covered it up with makeup,” Naomi said.

  Bree grinned, then dusted the pistachio shells from her hands and stood. “You bunch of wimps ready to get back to work yet?”

  “Please, anything but that,” Lauri moaned. “First you dragged me out of bed at seven o’clock on a Saturday, and now you’re cracking the whip before I even get my candy bar eaten. What a slave driver!”

  Bree twirled an imaginary mustache. “And zat is only ze beginning, my little chickadee! Soon you vill be begging for someone to save you.”

  Lauri giggled. “I’m already begging. You want me on my knees?” She slipped off the rock onto her knees in the mud and clasped her hands together. “Oh please, please, let’s quit. Zorro is begging too. He’s ready to hide in the brambles.”

  Bree tipped her head to one side and looked at the girls. “Come on, one more search. You’re not tired, are you, Eva?”

  Eva gave a shamefaced grin. “I admit I’m bushed as well. I was up a little late last night.”

  Her guilty expression made Lauri bite the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. “New boyfriend?”

  “No, the same one. I wanted him to stay over last night, but he gave me some excuse about having to get up early for work. He didn’t leave until three, and I got up at six for the training.”