I closed the gate as the sky turned dark. “We should get back before the storm hits.”
31
Gabriel studied the map of Beaufort to set out a course of action. It wasn’t huge, but it was still going to take days to cover it all. Dakota hadn’t given any clues to how big the house was, but from what she’d described to him, it didn’t sound like a huge home.
“It’s really putting it down out there.” Max wheeled into the sitting room of the bed-and-breakfast.
“My mother used to tell me it was god’s tears after something horrible happened.” Gabriel folded the map. “She called the lightning and thunder his anger at the perpetrators who committed the act.”
Max rolled to the window and sat staring. “I never saw you as a religious man.”
“I’m not but not because my mother didn’t try her best.” Gabriel glanced at the huge clock on the wall. It was almost noon. “Did the department ever try to find the house Dakota went to?”
“No, but there’s a reason for that.”
Max didn’t turn around, and the tone of his voice warned Gabriel that he wasn’t going to like what was coming next. “Why?”
“I told you. Wagner said she called in and said she was quitting and getting married.”
“What about the burned car and the fact that she never got in touch with her father and her boyfriend’s dead body? Didn’t that raise any eyebrows?”
“Only with me.” Max turned around. “The pictures of her and Christian together started coming in. The department was being harassed by the media. Wagner took the stance that she killed Tristan and ran off with Salyer. I started searching on my own time. Everything I turned up on Salyer was ridiculous. He was so clean I couldn’t even find a parking ticket.”
“Dakota mention his background check didn’t show up in New York. He had to have help to set up a fake identity that couldn’t be broken.”
“That’s what I figured. I don’t think it’s a good idea to meet with Wagner.”
Gabriel’s phone rang, and he looked at the caller ID. “It’s Don. We’ll finish this in a minute.” He stepped out onto the porch. “Hey, Don. I was just thinking about calling you.”
“I’ve got some bad news for you. Just received a fax from Wagner. They identified enough DNA to make a statement that the bones belonged to Salyer. He’s planning on arresting Dakota and making a big media production out of it. I tried to talk him out of it, Gabe.”
“Were you able to get that entomology thing Karen mentioned?”
“I called them before I called you. They’re putting a rush on it, but I have a feeling it won’t come back until after he’s arrested her. How is she?”
“Good for what she’s been through. I should have called you. Salyer had Bethany Phillips kill her housekeeper and gardener, an old couple that had been with them since she was born. We’ve got a couple of leads on Salyer. He’s made contact with Dakota twice.”
“Phillips?”
“She killed herself.”
“Damn. So what do you plan to do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll talk it over with Dakota. Call me as soon as you get that report.”
“I’m driving over there now. If it’s good, I’ll hand deliver the damn thing.”
“Thanks, Don.”
Gabriel closed his phone and stood watching the rain fall. He didn’t have anything to lose by helping Dakota, but both Max and Karen would be locked up for aiding and abetting. He couldn’t make the choice for them.
Max opened the door. “Lunch is ready. If you’re finished, come on. I’m starved.”
My phone rang just as I was heading downstairs after Max’s second scream that he was starving. Out of habit, I looked at the ID—unknown. I knew who it was. He was missing his rituals. Gabriel was getting weaker and popping more pain pills each day. I wanted to grant his last wish of killing Christian Salyer before he died. I hit the answer key. “Hello, Christian.”
“Have you been thinking about me, love?”
“Yes, I’ve been thinking about you. I know who you are.”
“Have you thought about what I asked you?”
“You know I would die for her. Where is she?”
“Someplace safe.” He laughed, sending a shiver down my spine. “Who do you think I am, Dakota?”
“You’re my brother. Emma is your niece.”
The silence on the phone had me gripping it so hard for a moment that I thought I’d broken it or he’d hung up. I needed to keep him talking. “We should meet. Talk about Mother.”
“You know nothing about her,” he growled. I could see his face twisting, the demon coming out. I needed to calm him down, placate him in case Emma was near.
“You’re right, Christian. I don’t know anything about our mother. I need you to tell me about her. My father told me she died. I know now he lied.”
“You should have loved me.”
“I should have, and maybe we could have loved each other, but our mother and my father denied us that. We could try again. I didn’t know then, but now I do. I want to see Emma. Hold her for just a little while. Teach her to paint. Give me another chance to love you and her. You’re all the family I have.”
His laughter cut through me, opening wounds and creating new ones. He truly was insane. A dial tone sounded in my ear, and I slumped onto the bed. A knock sounded at the door, and Karen stuck her head inside.
“Max is having a conniption. Says he’s starving.” She stepped inside. “Are you okay?”
“Christian called.”
She sat down on the bed beside me and placed an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go downstairs. Max and Gabriel will want to hear what he said. Gabriel also has something to tell you.”
“Give me a minute alone.” I dropped the phone and walked to the bathroom. “I want to wash my face. Tell Max to go ahead and start without me.”
“Don’t take too long, okay?”
“Be right there.” I splashed cold water on my face and dried it. My phone rang again. “If that’s Max, I’m going to kill him.”
Unknown was flashing on the caller ID. “Hello.”
“When was the last time you visited your grandmother’s house? I left something there for you.” He hung up again.
“Damn you, Christian, and your games.”
A pain started in my right temple, and I sat down on the bed and closed my eyes.
“Mommy, where are we going?”
“We’re going to Grandma’s house.” She turned and smiled at me. “You’ll have to be very quiet and very clean while we’re there. No playing outside.”
“Is Daddy coming?”
Her face hardened. “Daddy isn’t coming.” She parked in front of a huge frame house. “Daddy doesn’t love Mommy anymore. He only loves you.” She took my arm and dragged me from the car. “Never have children, Dakota. They ruin everything.”
“You’re hurting me, Mommy.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She grabbed me around the waist and carried me up the steps. “We have to take our shoes off now. Grandma has white carpet.”