Page 66 of Crosshairs

33

Sonny waited until Steele and the Beaumont woman drove away. He’d come by Cora’s house at midnight, and two vehicles had sat in the drive. One probably belonged to Ainsley Beaumont, but who had the other one belonged to?

What if they’d opened the safe and found another journal? He had two and needed all three to get what he was asking in order to pay the people he owed money to. What if he didn’t pay them, instead took the took the money and ran? Fifty grand would be enough to start over in a little Mexican village. Then he’d never have to deal marijuana again. No more selling on the sly toupstandingbusinessmen or the dealers who sold to high school kids.

Sonny had about croaked when he’d discovered the Dyson girl’s supplier was one of his dealers. Sonny needed to talk to him. Make sure he kept his mouth shut.

He entered the house through the kitchen. Once in Cora’s bedroom, he removed the painting before he took out the slip of paper with the entire family’s birthdates. If she hadn’t chosen one of their birthdays for the combination he’d have to bring in a professional.

The first one, Rose Beaumont’s, didn’t work, and he tried the niece. No dice. He doubted it was Cora’s birthdate, but he tried it anyway. Why was the last option always the correct one?

He froze as the back door scraped open. There was no way toget to the library and in the hidden stairs without being seen. He took a step toward the bathroom and stopped. Might be the first place whoever it was stopped. That left either under the bed or in the closet to hide.

He opted for the closet and stepped inside the narrow space between hangers of Miss Cora’s flowery dresses. The scent of lavender tickled his nose. What was it with old women and lavender? If he sneezed ... He’d have to somehow not do that.

With the door barely cracked, Sonny peered through the narrow opening, his breath catching as J.R. Beaumont stalked into the room and stopped in front of the safe. Sonny took pride in knowing about the men he dealt with. J.R. Beaumont worked out to stay in shape, and from what he’d read, he had a left hook that had found its mark more times than not in his amateur boxing days. Something Sonny did not want to experience.

“Can’t believe Ainsley didn’t rehang the painting.” J.R.’s voice carried to the closet. “Definitely not like her.” He opened the safe and swore.

Sonny shrunk back as J.R. swung around and scanned the room. “Where is it?”

That was what Sonny wanted to know. Sweat ran down the side of his face in the claustrophobic space. He was going to pass out if he didn’t get out of the closet.

J.R. banged the safe door shut and stormed out of the room.

Sonny took his first good breath when the back door slammed hard enough to rattle the windows.

He slipped out of the hiding place on legs like rubber. That was close. And evidently for nothing. Ainsley Beaumont must have the diary with her. Which would make getting it more difficult. Or, she’d hidden it somewhere.

He had all day. He might as well use it searching the Chamberlain house.

34

Linc had let Ainsley out at the hospital entrance, and she waited in the lobby for him to park. Since she was wearing her body armor under her shirt, she didn’t have to stash the vest at the reception area.

Cora was sleeping when they walked into her ICU room. “She’s been asking for you and mumbling something about the diaries,” her grandmother said.

As Gran talked, Cora’s eyes opened and she tried to sit up. “You’re here. Did you find them?”

As Ainsley raised the head of her bed, the nurse stepped inside. “She’s only allowed two visitors at a time, so one of you will have to leave.”

Gran stood. “She was so excited when I told her Linc was coming. I’ll step out since the doctor said I could stay and help with her lunch.” She hugged Ainsley and handed her the keys to Cora’s car. “The garage opener is in the kitchen. Third drawer from the sink.”

“Thanks.” Ainsley turned to Cora. The six-inch line of staples on her head reminded Ainsley how close they’d come to losing her great-aunt. At least the black eye she’d suffered when she fell was healing, although it was turning greenish. “You look better today.”

“Don’t ever play poker,” Cora said. “At least my head isn’t hurting like it was. Did you find the diaries?”

Her aunt was much clearer today, and her grit amazed Ainsley. “The diary in your safe? Yes, we found it.”

“Only one?”

“How many should we have found?”

Cora’s brow furrowed. “Two ... maybe ... I think I was reading one in bed ... but my memory is still fuzzy.”

There was no diary on the bed, further confirming someone had been in the house. “Where did you find them?” Ainsley asked.

Cora’s expression went blank. She pinched the bridge of her nose like she had all of Ainsley’s life when she was thinking. “I can’t remember...” She looked past Ainsley. “Is that Linc with you?”

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