Page 94 of The House Beyond the Dunes

Those comments seem to douse some of the fire blazing in his blue eyes. “Does Iverson come into Joey’s Bar regularly?”

“Not according to Joey. I’ve only been working there a week.”

“How often have you seen him?”

“Three times. That’s a lot of visits for a professional man from Virginia.”

“Maybe he has a house nearby.”

“Maybe.”

I draw in a breath. “Okay, well, if you find her let me know,” I say. “The bar is the best place to get in touch with me. I’ll be around a few more days.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Never know with me.”

He scribbles his number on the back of a hardware store receipt. “Call me if you need anything.”

I hesitate before I reach for it. I’m careful not to touch him because I wouldn’t mind feeling those hands again on my body. “You think the cops could get some kind of crime scene unit in here?”

“I have a friend in the sheriff’s department. I’ll call him. But it’s not going to be on anyone’s priority list.”

Girls like Nikki never are. I watch him closely. “Don’t forget her.”

“I won’t.” He rubs his hand over his clean-shaven chin as he walks into the bedroom and studies the space. “The blood patterns suggest someone was hit in the face. See the stipple on the sheets?”

I follow and my gaze is immediately drawn to the red droplets scattered on the grayish-white sheets. “How can you tell?”

“I’ve looked at my share of scenes.” He studies the dingy carpet stained with blood. “Facial wounds can bleed a lot.” He moves toward the small bathroom. “It’s in here as well.”

“What do you think happened?”

“I imagine someone hitting Nikki, her clutching her mouth and running to the tiny bathroom. Her attacker follows her and watches her clean up.”

“No one heard screams.” I tell him what Jana saw on the now-deleted tape.

“Whatever he said to her in that bathroom charmed and calmed her. He’s slick. Knows how to manipulate.”

“Nikki told me she was used to violence.”

He frowns. “I can poke around and see what I can find about Kyle Iverson. If he does have property down here, it might be the ideal place to take Nikki. This time of year, hotels are packed. And not very private.”

“Thanks, Sully. Nice someone cares.”

He studies me, and I sense he has so many questions for me, but instead he shakes his head.

Sully strikes me as one of the good guys, but he’s different from Joey. This one has secrets. But who doesn’t, right? “Back at you.”

As I turn, he clears his throat. “Call me.”

He’s said it twice now. Is twice enough? “I’ll call if I find out something about Nikki.”

His hand slides to his pocket. Change rattles. “Call me even if you don’t.”

“And do what? A repeat performance?” A buzz rushes me. Easy to say yes to more time with him. But what’s the fun if I don’t tease a little? “Or just chat?”

Sully cocks a brow. “Whatever you want. I like to talk, and I bet money you have lots to say.”

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