Page 185 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

CHAPTER NINE

Max looked out the window and saw a shadow flit from tree to tree in the white birch grove behind the house. He frowned. Occasionally a villager would come skulking onto the property to steal things. He’d better check it out.

He looked to make sure Molly was still occupied with Gram then went out the front door and slipped around the end of the house. A path led around the gazebo and entered the grove from the side. That would be his best entry point to catch the intruder red-handed.

The garden looked pristine and well-manicured after the groundkeeper pruned the shrubs. He walked along the row of evergreens shaped like barrels. The soft grass underfoot muffled his approach to the trees.

The shade welcomed him as he stepped into the trees. He heard muffled voices coming from the direction of the old milk house. Stepping softly, he trod in that direction. He parted the bushes and peered through. Becca stood talking with Nick.

Nick was standing too close to her for Max’s liking. She seemed not to mind though, as she tipped her head to listen to what his brother was saying. They made a nice couple, thoughshe stood almost eye level with Nick. He wanted to see his brother happy, but he had a feeling Nick needed some sweet, little homebody who thought he hung the moon.

Becca was more likely to tell him to sit in his easy chair while she hung it herself. Max smiled at the thought.

She was nothing like Laura.

The thought came out of nowhere and made him frown. Why would he compare Becca to Laura? The last thing he wanted was to think about another woman in Laura’s place.

He knew how the islanders whispered about him. The arguments they’d witnessed between Laura and him had been fuel to the speculation he’d had something to do with her death.

He pressed closer to hear what his brother was saying. Max was probably going to have to warn Becca off, and he didn’t relish the thought of her fiery response. She didn’t strike him as the type who would take kindly to someone meddling with her love life.

“Why are you asking so many questions about the boating accident?” Nick picked a flower and tucked it into Becca’s hair.

She laughed, and her hand went to her hair. “I’ve just been hearing stories about it.”

Was she talking about Laura’s accident? She had no business poking her nose into his affairs. Max gritted his teeth. It was time he broke up this little tête-à-tête.

“There you are,” he said, thrusting his leg through the brush.

Becca’s face flushed, and Max wondered if it was because she felt self-conscious to be found with Nick or because she was afraid he’d overheard her prying into Laura’s death.

He told himself he didn’t care what Becca thought of him, but the assertion rang hollow.

“If you have something you want to know about my wife’s death, ask me yourself, Becca. You don’t need to go sneaking around asking questions behind my back.”

Becca’s startled gaze met his. “Your—your wife?”

“You idiot,” Nick said. “We weren’t talking about Laura. We were just discussing the boat that exploded a few weeks ago. Not everything revolves around you, you know.”

Max’s rage cooled into a puddle of embarrassment. “I heard you mention an accident, and I thought—,” He broke off, well aware they knew what he thought. “Sorry,” he muttered.

Nick turned to Becca. “My brother is paranoid. The villagers say he killed Laura.”

Becca didn’t gasp, though Max was sure she wanted to.

“I see,” she said quietly.

Why did she always have to look at him with those eyes? Blue as Lake Superior and just as clear. Her eyes said there was no deceit in her soul, and Max knew better. There was some reason she was here on the island, and he intended to find out what it was.

“Did you hear about the boating accident?”

Becca looked away. “Molly’s friend’s mother mentioned it.”

“I suppose she told you about everything that goes on around here too, huh? I get sick of gossip. You’d do well not to listen to it.”

“Why are you so defensive?” Her gaze met his again.

“I’m not. But I didn’t hire you to indulge in gossip and pry into the affairs of this household.”

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