Page 68 of Nicole's Shelter

“Tens of thousands I’m sure.” She laughed at his dark scowl. “Forgive me,” she managed. “Lost sandals or not, no one’s disturbed the safe yet.”

“What if—”

Perching on the foot of the bed, she cut off his next protest with a raised hand. “When my mother and sister were killed, I stopped asking that question. I did my best with the information I had and kept moving forward.”

She traced the edges of the envelope with her fingertip, knowing she couldn’t put it off any longer. Handing it to him, she said, “See for yourself. My first year of college, I developed two prints from the negatives and eventually stored them in separate locations.” She felt a swell of pride that she got all that out in a rock-steady voice. “Go ahead. Take a look.”

He studied her for what felt like an eternity before slowly lifting the flap. The shock on his face relieved any lingering worry about the validity of the horrific image she’d caught that day.

“It’s enough, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” he whispered.

She stroked the jade figurine in her hand. It was the male of a Chinese Fu dog set. Mr. Chan had given it to her along with a hefty tip for cat sitting that last spring break. Her sister had received the matching female. He’d told them the legend and the symbolism of the protective guardians and they’d placed the statues on either side of the tall bookcase they’d shared.

Rick lifted the negatives to the light and she watched his expression transform into the implacable mask she’d come to know meant he was planning something. Whatever his idea, she’d go along with it; she trusted him that much.

“Do you have a computer here?”

“No.”

“All right. We can use my iPad.”

“There’s a small business center at the commons if you want a regular computer.”

“I saw it. We might do that later,” he said, holding the envelope out to her. “Put this away and let’s take a walk.”

“Pardon me?” How could he possibly want to blow this off? “Won’t this put the nail in Clifton’s coffin?” And shouldn’t they do that as soon as possible?

He hooked his thumbs into the back pockets of his jeans. “Definitely.” The slow curve of his lips was absolutely predatory. She felt ridiculously better in an instant.

“We could fax this to the authorities tonight. Or scan it and send an email.”

“It’s within the realm of possibility, sure. But it’s a gorgeous evening. Seems a shame to waste it hanging around indoors waiting for those authorities to take action.”

He had her there. She didn’t want to believe their time was limited, but that was the reality and she wanted to make the most of it. She stowed the envelope once more, but set the Fu dog on the dresser as they left the bedroom.

When they were outside and the cottage locked behind them, he caught her hand. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to walk with him this way on a crisp fall evening with the ocean on the breeze.

Her new flip flops slapped against her feet as they followed the trail toward the sound of the surf. “Are we out here just so you can reconnoiter or whatever it’s called?”

“That’s just a bonus.” He made an exaggerated show of looking around in all directions, including up at the twilight sky. “I’m out here because I haven’t been to the beach with a beautiful woman in ages.”

She rolled her eyes, but only as a small defense against the sweet tenderness of holding his hand. “I almost offered this place to Allie when things fell apart for her.”

“That would’ve been interesting.”

“How so?”

“Ross was frustrated enough by the complexities of tailing her in Haleswood. He’d have had conniptions trying to go unnoticed around here.”

“Ross?”

“My boss, owner of Cypress Security.”

“Not Ross Carpenter?” She scolded herself for not putting that together sooner. To be fair, she’d had enough of her own crap to deal with these past days.

“The same,” Rick confirmed, steadying her through the deep, loose sand of the dunes that edged the beach. “Why?”

---