Page 196 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Looking down into her earnest blue eyes, Max believed her. Whatever she might be hiding, her compassion and gentleness was evident. “Thanks,” he said. The tension began to ebb from his tight muscles. His hand covered hers, and she blushed but didn’t remove it.

“I know you’re suspicious of me, Max,” she whispered. “But I’m no threat to you.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” he said in a low voice. “I think you’re dangerous to my peace of mind, Becca Lynn.” She was so close now he could feel her breath on his face. He gave up the struggle and bent his head to kiss her.

Her lips were warm and welcoming, then he could feel her withdrawal before she actually pulled away.

“We shouldn’t do this,” she said.

“Why not? I’m not taken and neither are you. Are you?”

“N—no,” she stammered. “But I don’t want you to repeat a past mistake. I’m your assistant, just like Laura was. It might be another case of being in close proximity.”

She might have a point. He dropped his hand from her arm. “You’d better go inside,” he said.

She gave him one last look then rushed inside. He could have sworn he saw tears on her lashes, and he hoped they weren’t his fault. He waited a few minutes then went inside.

“You had a phone call while you were gone,” Shayna said. “Your friend Adam.”

Max was wishing he hadn’t asked Adam to check out Becca. She might be hiding something, but he wanted to believe it was nothing that concerned him. He nodded to Shayna then went to his office to call Adam.

“What’s up, buddy?” he asked.

“You sure you gave me the right name?” Adam asked.

“I’m sure. Why, what did you find?”

“There’s no record of a Becca Lynn at Indiana University. And the address you gave me belongs to Sherri Lambdon.”

Max hung up the phone. Everything Becca had said was a lie. So much for believing her lies. He wanted to toss her out on her ear, but Gram would have a fit. It would take more subtlety than to confront her like a raging bull.

He glanced toward the stairs. She would be gone with Gram this afternoon, and her room would be empty. Maybe he could discover some clue to her true identity—and even more importantly—to what she was doing here on Eagle Island.

He waited until he saw Becca go off with Gram then went to the bedroom. In two minutes, he’d found her purse. Her picture on her driver’s license was dark but easily identifiable as Becca. The name on it didn’t sink in at first. Rebecca Lynn Baxter. Laura’s cousin.

No wonder she’d offered to help Gram. She was here to make sure she was Gram’s heir. Max gritted his teeth. She couldn’t be allowed to take away what belonged to Molly.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Gram was waiting for Becca when she got home with Max. Her blue eyes were as bright as polished turquoise, and she quivered with excitement as she showed Becca the mishmash of papers and receipts in her desk.

“I know I should have done something about this long ago,” she said. “It will be fun now with you here. You can tell me things I missed while you were growing up—like your first boyfriend, learning to drive, your relationship with Jake and Wynne. I long to see them too.”

“They are planning on coming to the island in a few more days,” Becca said. She needed allies and longed to see her siblings. “I hope to find out more about the boat explosion before they come. It will be difficult to keep their identity secret.”

“We’ll think of something.” The glow in her grandmother’s eyes dimmed. “I still think you’re wrong, Becca. The explosion had to be a terrible accident and not murder.”

“Then why is someone trying to get rid of me?” Becca shook her head. “It’s the only explanation, Gram.”

“I can’t bear to think that any of my family would deliberately cause harm,” she said, dropping into the chair by the window.

“Tell me more about all of them,” Becca prompted as she began to organize the receipts into piles of categories.

“Well, let me see. Let’s start with Tate.” Her smile dimmed further. “I love that boy, but I could shake him. He’s let the demon of alcohol control his life.”

“He talked to me about it. I think he sees it and would like to change. We talked about God.”

Gram’s head came up at that, and she beamed at Becca. “I knew you’d be good for this family, my dear. Keep up your testimony with him.”

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