Chapter 4

They stopped at a small diner that overlooked the rocky cliffs for lunch before heading back to Blue Cove. The place was hopping so they took a seat at the counter where they could see all the action of the food preparation. It was too loud to talk seriously, which was okay. Matt was thoughtfully quiet. It gave Jessie time to watch the endless moments of entertainment. Written on the menu was a blurb about the café’s history. The owner was also a teacher at one of the culinary schools in the area. Several students from the school who were studying elements of the food industry worked there along with some of their professors.

Jessie loved watching their efficiency as they worked as a team. The restaurant advertised organic food made with fresh ingredients that were locally grown. Each student worked several elements from the grill to garnishing. The teacher had to give final approval of the food presentation on each plate before the server brought it out. The owner had found her niche; The Early Bird had gotten an excellent write-up by the food critic Howard Hill. Jessie fully understood why. Her chicken salad on raisin bread was good, and so was her salad tossed with a raspberry vinaigrette. She glanced over at Matt, who was still frowning.

Watching the students carry on as they prepared the food was a show in itself. There was more heat in that small kitchen than the stove. Jessie chuckled, watching the bantering and flirting going on between the students. A few towel slaps and pinches made for an enjoyable lunch.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Matt heard her chuckle.

“I am.” She ate the last bite of her sandwich. “The students are extremely entertaining.” She watched him place the tip on the counter as he stood up to leave.

He held the door open for her, and she glanced his way as she swept by him. “Thanks, I enjoyed the whole experience. My meal was excellent.”

“It’s pretty good. I stop here a lot when I’m in the area. It’s probably not the best place to talk, but we’ll have time on the ride home.”

“I found the students’ interaction diverting.” She smiled.

“I think a few of those boys were trying to impress you.” He unlocked the car for her.

“I doubt that. There were some attractive girls their own age which was reason enough for them to show off.” Jessie clenched her mouth to keep from laughing at his expression. “It was fun watching them work and flirt. You know, Matt, not every guy is looking at me. There are lots of other women around.” She slid in the car when he opened the door. “Have you cooled down yet? I think Jordon Daniels made you angry.”

“That obvious, huh?” He grinned at her. “I could put my fist in his face a couple of times and probably feel a whole lot better.”

“Why? He wasn’t that bad.” She watched him get in the car. “I’ve had guys treat me worse.”

“Not in front of me you haven’t. Some men think they can say and act any way they want to a woman, and I was reminding him that he couldn’t. That’s all.”

“I think it was more than that. Do you care to elaborate?” She watched his stony face, and he watched the road. “Maybe not, hmm, okay, that subject is closed.” Her voice was at a near whisper.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I’m trying to figure out my response. I intensely disliked him the minute I heard how he was talking to you. I know men can be sexist and obnoxious jerks at times, but there was something more. When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”

“Fair enough.” She looked out the side window, her lips turned up at the corner. “So, what was your take away from the interviews?” She turned in her seat so she could see him when he talked.

“I think Randy Wallis is an interesting character and his anger over Adriana’s promotion could be the motive.” He turned to look before he pulled onto the highway. “But he’s way too fussy to get his hands dirty, so if he’s involved, someone else would have to do the dirty work.”

“I agree. He might hand her over to someone. I don’t think he’d do anything himself, although, there could be a scenario where he might. I remember something from my Psych class. I’d have to do some research on the subject though. It’s been awhile. Do you think he’s so fastidious about everything he does?”

“I know he is. I checked out his workspace. It was almost scary how neat it was. I wouldn’t be able to find anything in a space that neat.” He put on his signal and passed a car moving too slowly. “He was always wiping up with an anti-bacterial solution in the kitchen. He used it on his hands after he touched anything. I know. I watched him for a little while.”

“When did you see all that? I was with you most of the time and never saw it.” She frowned and pulled out her notes.

“From the time we walked into the bank and waited, I was watching them at work. It’s what I do.” He smiled as she glared. “What?”

“I don’t think I want to know what you’ve observed about me. Although, I do remember wondering what made you glare at me the first time we met.”

“I’ve never looked at you as a suspect, so you don’t have to worry about my observations. Most of them are honorable, and the others are fantasy. The first time we met.” He grinned. “Let’s just say you unhinged me. We’ll leave it at that.”

She felt the familiar heat creep up around her neck and face. “What did you think about Jayla?” Her voice sounded strange even to her ears. She watched him smile.

“Jayla was interesting. Too much makeup, way too many bangles, but a pleasant smile. It was hard to figure out what to look at first. Her drawl and dimples were memorable, though. I loved how she called you sugar. I think she’s probably harmless, but you never know.”

“Are you being serious? I can’t tell.” She scrunched her face, and he laughed.

“Of course. All I’m saying is Jayla is an intriguing character. She’s a colorful personality, a visual contradiction.”

“I didn’t see her that way, but then I’m a woman looking at another woman. I just wondered why she wasn’t more broken up about the loss of her so-called close friend. She gave us some good information, especially the bit about death finding Adriana again. Her story about the man and Randy’s version are entirely different, though. So who’s telling the truth? I find the part about Adriana interacting with the man strange when Randy said he never noticed any interaction.”

“And that’s the reason I want you along whenever I do any interview. I observe details, but you get to the heart of it.”

“Dare I ask what you thought about Jordon Daniels?” She flipped the page over to find her notes on Jordon.

“You mean besides him being a pompous ass?” He watched her shake her head. “Honestly, I don’t know what to think. He was extremely defensive, but so was I. It could be the whole male thing, or I observed something in him that I didn’t like.”

“I think,” she said softly, “that he’s arrogant, that he doesn’t like you, but that he’s also hiding something. It was there in his eyes. What it is, I’m not sure. Maybe he knows more than he’s letting on.”

“I plan on doing a little snooping around while you’re gone. We can pick up where we left off when you get back. I might have to give your friend Jeremy a call.” Matt glanced quickly at her.

“That’s a splendid idea. I know he’d be happy to get involved. He loves research but after being here for the last case he considers himself something of a super sleuth now.” She giggled. “We may have created a super alter ego. Only time will tell.”

He drove off the highway and slowed down. “You’re fun. I’ve laughed more in the last few months than I have in a while. I like hanging out with you, Miss Reynolds.”

“You’re not half bad either. I think I can tolerate it for a while.”

“Do you think you might expand that while to cover a lifetime?” Matt’s lips turned up at the corner.

“I’ll take it under advisement.” She smiled at him when he stopped in front of her store. She reached for the door and then stopped. “Thank you, Matt.” She reached across the seat and brushed a kiss across his lips.

She heard his growl of pleasure, and he intensified the kiss. He pulled away first. “For what, sweetheart?”

Her heart was still racing. “For being you.” She opened the car door. “I’ll work here the rest of the day, but don’t forget, I don’t have a car, and you’ll have to pick me up.”

He gave her his lopsided grin. “Pickup is such a loaded word. I’ll be here.”

****

Jessie unlocked the door, walked in, and paused briefly to take it all in. She loved everything about her store; from the artwork on the walls to the pendant lights, it was all hers and the bank’s, which held the mortgage, of course. She walked into the back room and hung up her coat. Where to begin? She eyed the room and headed back toward the front door.

Matt was handsome, caring, and maybe a bit overbearing at times, but she was hooked. Fanning her face, she picked up the stack of mail that had come through the mail slot and randomly began to open it. Most were invoices, which she put on the counter. One was a plain white envelope addressed to her but had no return address. She put the letter opener inside the flap and slit the envelope open.

She answered her ringing phone. “Hi, Katie.”

“Hey, Jessie. Did Sadie tell you where we’re going yet?”

“No, Grams said she would tell us when we get there on Monday. She has the tickets for the next flights.”

“I can’t wait, but I don’t know what to take. Will it be hot or cold?”

“Sadie said she wanted warm, but how warm is any place in February? Still I think it will be warmer than here.”

“I’ll pack a light jacket and maybe a sweatshirt. That should cover it if I need it.”

“Sounds good to me. Are you packed already?” Jessie slipped the paper from the envelope and opened it. Her name was in bold black letters at the top. “Hey, Katie, can I call you back. I need to take care of something at the store.”

“Sure, I’m so excited to get away for a few days. I’ll talk to you later.” Katie squealed and hung up.

What was this? Jessie’s eyes got huge the farther she read. It was happening again to her. She read the letter another time and then re-read it.

Dear Jessie,

I’ve been watching you.

A chill went down her back, and she looked around the store and then again at the paper in her hands.

You’ve come a long way from those first days in New York, but how good I have yet to determine. I’ve decided to find out. We are going to play a game together, Jessie. If you’re good, you’ll find the clues. Here is the first few, a freebie of sorts.

I’ve looked and looked for the perfect wife, a few choice candidates to become my fantasy bride. One by one, they failed me in turn. So I got rid of them, which I’ve grown to like. You’re too smart not to know what I mean. All of these were only in practice for my ultimate queen. Let’s see if you can find us before she fails me, too. I’m going to enjoying playing these mind games with you.

Jessie sat down in the nearest chair, shaking. What kind of a sick game was this? Matt would know what to do. She handed the note to him the minute he walked into the store a while later.

“What’s this?” He took the paper from her hand barely glancing at it.

“I found this note mixed in with my mail that I thought you should read.” She watched understanding hit him as he read.

His hands fisted, and his eyes flashed with anger. “What the hell!” He started pacing. “Where’s the envelope? Handle it carefully in case there are fingerprints on it.”

“I doubt that there are, except for mine and the mail handler’s when he pushed it through with the letters.” She grabbed his hand hoping to calm him.

“Do you understand now why I didn’t want you involved?” He pulled her into his chest, locking his arms around her. “Tell me how can I keep you safe from this?”

“You’re not responsible for my safety. You’ve trained me to take care of myself.” She took a step back to look up at his face.

“Jess, we’re not going there. I brought you into this partnership. I watch your back, and you watch mine. I would do the same for Dylan, Kip, or any of my officers.”

“Okay, I get it.” She stood in the circle of his arms glancing up at him. “He had to know me from my articles or New York when I worked there. I need to think about some of the reports I did over the years. He has Adriana. She’s his queen. I know that much.” She shuddered, and he pulled her close again. “Somehow we have been tied together. I don’t remember any connection, but I have to think about it. I did take a couple of classes at NYU. Somehow our worlds crossed paths, and he has connected us.”

He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “What else stood out to you about this note?”

She shuddered again. “He’s done this before and then killed them, hasn’t he? It has to be the woman I saw.” She pulled back in his arms, a thoughtful look on her face. “He’s gotten the taste for it, hasn’t he?”

He nodded and pulled her back close to him. “So it would seem.”