Page 167 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Cornish settlers had found their way here from the Keweenaw where they’d settled to work in the copper mines, and she gazed on the nineteenth century ruins of a Cornish cottage.Three rooms still stood, but they had crumbled even more since she was here last. Wildflower sprigs poked through the rubble in spots, and she made her way to the perch where she used to watch the fishermen casting their nets offshore.

Settling onto a large piece of granite, she clasped her knees to her chest and grew still. The wind blew her hair around her head in a swirl, and she lifted her face into the sunshine. The scent of the water and the lullaby of the waves soothed her.

A sound other than that of the wind and waves penetrated her reverie. Like someone throwing stones. She cocked her head and listened. Dusting her hands on her jeans, she got up and followed the noise. It sounded like it was down the grassy slope. A cave was this direction, if she remembered rightly.

Holding to exposed tree roots, Becca slid down the incline and followed the sound. The waves reached for her when she got to the bottom. She avoided the cold spray and scrambled around the promontory edge of land.

The cave’s opening was at eye height. She’d thought it so high up the slope when she was young. She could climb to it now if she wanted. Glancing around, she saw the footholds she could use. A sense of adventure quickened her breath. She’d always wanted to see inside. Setting her can of soda on the sand, she began the short climb toward the cave.

A pebble rattled past her cheek, then another. She glanced up in time to see a person’s head vanish from view. Seconds later a boulder rumbled toward her, gathering speed as it came. She dove against the rock face and scrabbled the last few inches to the cave.

Just in time, she tumbled into the cave, shards of rock cutting her cheek. Debris rained past the opening then the boulder hurtled past, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. Dazed from the near miss, Becca sat up and rubbed her stinging cheek.Her fingers came away bloody, and she stared at her fingers incredulously. She wiped her hand on her jeans.

She leaned out of the cave opening and looked down. The boulder was big enough that she could slide out of the cave and stand on it without climbing down. Reaction set in, and Becca began to tremble. A few more seconds and she would have been lying squashed beneath the boulder.

Someone just tried to kill her. This was no accident. She closed her eyes and struggled to remember the brief glimpse of the face she’d seen above her. Nothing came. She’d seen just a flash. It was there and gone so quickly she wasn’t sure if it was a man or a woman.

Staring at the boulder, she decided it had to be a man. A woman would never have been able to shove it over the cliff. Even a man would have to be stronger than the norm.

The cave’s cold began to seep into her bones, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to climb down yet. What if the man was still up there? She glanced around the cave. The opening was large enough to allow sunlight to illuminate it to a depth of about ten feet. Darkness hid the rest.

Becca took a step, then another and another. Keeping her hand on the cave wall, she wished she had a flashlight. Who knew what kind of creepy-crawlies were back in here? Thedrip-dripof moisture came from somewhere inside the cave, as well as the musty scent of stale water. The light from the opening grew dimmer, and she knew she should stop and turn around, but the thrill of the unknown kept her feet moving forward.

She came to a fork in the path. No way could she go any farther. Around the corner would be total darkness. Reluctantly, she began to retrace her steps. First chance she got, she’d come back with a flashlight.

She heard a sliding noise then what sounded like breathing. Her chest grew tight. Someone was in here with her. She froze,her breath loud in the silence. Just around the corner. Barely breathing, she bolted for the cave opening as a figure leaped toward her.

CHAPTER FIVE

Tamping down his anger, Max stepped out to intercept Becca. He wanted to wring her neck. She had no business in this cave. It was off limits to everyone. He was going to have to tell her the rules.

She shrieked and beat at his face. He grabbed her by the shoulders. She fought like the Valkyrie he’d thought her when they first met and almost succeeded in breaking free of his grasp.

“It’s just me,” he growled.

She stomped her foot down on the instep of his foot with a man’s strength.

“Ouch,” he snapped, his grip loosening. “Are you nuts? I’m not going to hurt you.”

She stiffened and pulled away. “Max? What are you doing here?” She squinted up at him as though unable to believe it was really him.

He bent over, rubbing his foot. “I decided I needed a break as well. I was walking along the beach and heard a rockfall then saw your soda can by the water. I was worried you’d been caught by the rocks. I’ll know better than to think you need rescuing next time.”

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

He scowled at her helping hand, and she quickly withdrew it. “I’m just fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here?”

“Exploring,” she said.

“Exploring.” He didn’t bother to hide his disgust. “It’s not safe to wander off by yourselves in these caves.”

“I know that. I turned around, obviously.”

Narrowing her eyes, she stared at him with what he could have sworn was suspicion. What did she have to be suspicious about?

She took another step away from him and put her hands on her hips. “Did you just try to squash me with that big boulder?”

Had she hit her head? He glanced at her forehead, but the cave was too dim to see well. “Are you nuts? I just hired you to help me.” Was the woman some kind of neurotic? That might explain why she was willing to come here to this remote island.

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