Carnal Beginnings: A dark romantic suspense (Carnal Series Book 1) Page 11

  The sound of rhythmic splashes at the water’s edge lulled him into a false sense of security. He knew how to blend with the environment to disguise his presence. Judging by the spyware found at Adara’s desk, his opponent did, too. The searchlight caught the back of his caller’s hooded wetsuit. The flash of fins above the frothy wind swells disappeared in the deeper onshore waves.

  Helpless rage engulfed him. At least the dirtbag knew there’d be no sneaking up on his house, which didn’t preclude the use of a rifle. Vulnerability had never been in Julien’s repertoire. Time for a new game plan. Various options formed during his trek back.

  Once Julien stepped through the door, Nika bounded down the stairs when called. Though the dog’s hackles had smoothed down, her posture remained tight and alert. He let her out via the slider with a search command in hopes she’d pick up the new scent. With nose to the ground, the dog headed toward the surf.

  Quiet footsteps alerted him to Adara’s presence, her alarmed reflection in the glass churning his stomach.

  “Did you see anyone?”

  “Whoever it was left via waterway express.”

  “But they’ll be back…”

  “And I’ll deal with him.”

  Within minutes, the throaty roar of his brother’s pickup signaled the first of three anticipated callers. Conner, the oldest, assumed point in dangerous endeavors, disseminating information and providing the voice of reason.

  “Nothing to worry about, hon. Why don’t you go back to bed while my brothers visit. You look exhausted.” There was no reason for her to lose more sleep.

  “Are you sure? I could fix something to eat or…”

  ”No, hon. Go back to bed. I’ll check in on you when they leave. Okay?”

  “All right. Thanks, Julien.” Worry etched her brow and slowed her step.

  After calling Nika in and rekeying the alarm, Julien made another pot of coffee. A long night lay ahead. By now, all his brothers would know of the threat against Adara, and wouldn’t leave until he’d divulged every detail of her life. At times, they might argue and pick at each other, but no outsider obtained that privilege. A common enemy always brought them together.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bright morning sunshine streamed through the windows to bring Adara to a new consciousness. The spontaneous smile represented a new addition to her demeanor and presaged a brighter future.

  Excitement pushed her out of bed and hastened her morning routine. Once dressed and mentally armed for the day, she headed for kitchen.

  Silent tread elicited no noise from Julien’s bedroom in passing. She wanted to explore the house on her own, especially the kitchen. As she descended the thick carpeted stairway, the serenity of the ocean view distracted her.

  “Morning, Adara. Sleep well?”

  A yelp of surprise accompanied the stumble down the last two steps. “Oh, ah, yes. Thank you. I thought you’d still be asleep. I hoped to have breakfast ready for you when you woke up.” And that worked out great…

  A plate of sausage accompanied the steaming stack of pancakes he set on the table that welcomed her with a light spicy aroma. The table was already set.

  “Have a seat. Would you like some coffee?”

  She nodded. Two cups sat on the counter. After filling them, he placed one before her.

  “Thank you, this smells wonderful. What did you put in the pancakes?” The concept of discussing recipes shouldn’t come as a surprise. Each day, she discovered more common ground with the enigma that was her boss.

  “You’re welcome. I usually add a bit of brown sugar and vanilla creamer. Dig in while it’s hot.”

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “What, that I can cook or that I knew you were awake?”

  His arched brow and feigned hurt made her giggle.

  “I heard you stirring earlier. Figured you’d be down soon.” Not surprisingly, he helped himself to a large stack of hotcakes after she took three for herself.

  “Actually, it shouldn’t surprise me at all. I haven’t found anything that stumps you.”

  “So, I got to thinking last night and had an idea. I’ve arranged for us to take the next couple of days off and have some fun. I want to take you to the arboretum this morning after we stop by your friend Graham’s house.”

  Her mouth flew open, but nothing emerged around the lump strangling her thoughts. “Seriously? What about work? You never take time off.”

  “Yeah, my brothers reminded me of that last night, which is why we will now. Time to look around and see what’s out there. Maybe you’d like to spend some time visiting some nurseries or…”

  “Wow, that sounds great. I haven’t been to the arboretum in years. My parents and I used to go each spring to see the new seedlings and hybrid flowers.”

  “Good, let’s eat. We can leave as soon as we’ve cleaned up.”

  “Did you find Graham’s address?”

  “Yes. Nate looked it up for me. Won’t take an extra twenty minutes to stop by. Maybe he’d like to join us?”

  “You wouldn’t mind? He’s really kinda cool, and looked like he needed some company.”

  “Adara, I don’t want to separate you from your friends. Just the opposite. You spoke highly of him. He’s won your respect and that’s enough for me.”

  * * * *

  Excitement wreathed Adara’s expression with a soft glow while hand gestures punctuated statements including Graham in upcoming activities.

  Another side of the previous Adara emerging from the ashes of her parents’ death.

  The prior night, Nate had swung by Graham’s rental to find the hood of a three-year-old sedan cool to the touch. No lights had shone from the windows and all remained quiet inside.

  From the positive report, Julien was relieved to find Adara maintained a solid male friend since her parents’ death. Graham’s presence in her life would provide substantial reinforcement as she emerged from her cocoon.

  Graham’s cottage fit the profile Julien envisioned. To see Adara’s wide smile in raising her hand to knock, Julien imagined a tearful reunion. Weight shifting foot-to-foot contradicted her normal patience.

  A thin whine brought their attention to Nika before the low growl rumbled deep in her chest. With her nose to the ground, she pursued an invisible trail around the side, sniffing between low snarls.

  Adara’s smile morphed into confusion. “What’s she tracking?”

  “Don’t know. But something’s up.” Julien called the dog to heel as he knocked on the front door and gently guided Adara behind him. Lack of noise indicated he’d find no one present.

  “Graham should be home at this hour…I want to go inside.” Adara reached around to turn the doorknob. “It’s locked.”

  “Here, let me try.” The small leather case Julien extracted from his jacket pocket yielded the lock pick set which had seen better days. Technically, his actions entailed breaking and entering, but considering Nika’s response, he decided to have a face-to-face with her young friend. Things were not adding up.

  The door employed a simple lock, no deadbolt. After raking the pins with the pick and inserting the tension wrench in the bottom of the keyhole, he set the pins and turned the cylinder. The lock clicked open.

  Without sidelights or glass inset, the door yielded no inside visual. Though a rare occurrence to be shot through the door, it happened on occasion. He pressed Adara to the side before proceeding. Returning the tools to his pocket, he turned the knob and entered. “Graham? Anyone home?” Silence greeted him. Again, Nika growled her displeasure, hackles raised along her spine with tail out.

  One glance inside told him all he needed to know. The door opened to a casual yet comfortable-looking living room, complete with smashed lamp and overturned chair. “Adara, I’m gonna go in and take a cursory look. I want you to stay here with Nika.”

  “But he’s my friend, I should go in—”

  “No, sweetheart. Since you didn’t know where he lived, you’ve never
been inside, right?”

  At her nod, he proceeded. “I don’t want him startled into rash action, I’ll just be a minute.”

  With a simple protect command, Nika stood guard by her side. Concerned that Adara would follow anyway, Julien entered and shut the door behind him, again calling Graham’s name.

  Ruddy smears on the linoleum floor gave further evidence of foul play. A small crimson pool led to dried spatters on the lower cabinets.

  “Shit.” A sharp butcher’s knife, the blade covered in scarlet strips, lay partially hidden under the kick plate. Clean tile countertops were bare except for a half-eaten sandwich on the bar. The half glass of milk proved room temperature to the back of his hand. Without congealed lumps and emitting no spoiled odor, exposure equaled less than a day, considering the room’s temperature.

  A quick search proved the one-story house empty with no basement from the kitchen area. The short hallway revealed three doors, two on the left, and one on the right, most likely bedrooms. Careful to leave no fingerprints, Julien used his elbow to nudge each door open.

  The first one opened to a small, spotless bathroom. Matching hand towels hung from a polished nickel bar, their ends even and perfectly straight. OCD? The next room appeared to be the master bedroom, with a colorful block quilt at the foot of the bed. Neatly made and lack of garments strewn about demonstrated its occupant’s desire for order. Stepping across the hall, he used his foot to push open the final door.

  Shit!

  Redolent with the odor of the sea, conflicting evidence forced a reevaluation of Adara’s absentee friend. Water stains led to a puddle gathered under and around the scuba gear in the corner. Closer inspection revealed no fine cracks or signs of harsh wear. The regulator, still connected to the tank, was stamped with a recent inspection date.

  On the other hand, when he looked into the open closet, the non-hooded wetsuit was not only dry and in good repair, but had been cleaned since its last use. The fresh scent derived from wetsuit shampoo had removed the saltwater and neoprene smell. It hadn’t been worn the previous night.

  Anger and confusion churned in his gut. Doubt niggled. Why would someone who kept an immaculate house fail to rinse scuba gear kept in good repair? Why leave it jumbled on the floor and where was the wetsuit worn by the beachside visitor?

  If Graham was the nocturnal visitor, the blood made no sense. Various questions begged for identities of those who contributed to the tangled puzzle weaving menace and bully tactics. Before leaving the house, he spoke with Nate, who’d make the necessary calls. Graham was involved, yet the puzzle pieces didn’t fit. He didn’t want Adara pulled in just yet. There was no need to burden her with confusing evidence until it formed a coherent picture.

  Adara’s puzzlement over Graham’s disappearance transformed to overt anxiety as she toyed with her gardenia necklace and shifted in the passenger seat. “It’s not like Graham to just take off.”

  “We’ll find him, Adara. By the way, I noticed the unusual locket you wear. Must be significant…”

  “Oh, uh…yes. Yes it is. My parents gave it to me. They said they’d open it on my sixteenth birthday, something precious inside.”

  “You’ve never opened it?”

  “No. Part of me wants to, but I couldn’t figure out how without breaking it. Not that I tried hard. It always felt like—if I didn’t open it, I could pretend they’d come back.” The reflection of her somber expression in the window brought her conflicted feelings to light.

  “When you’re ready, we’ll open it together. All right?”

  She shifted to face him. “All right. Thanks. I’m just not ready yet.”

  The noise of sparse coastal traffic ceded to nature’s performance with the subtle crash and slide of waves and early morning seagulls foraging for food. The leisure coastline drive provided opportunity to explore Adara’s gardening knowledge and elicit ideas for renovations to his own back yard.

  With no delusions of grandeur, she detailed specifics of several solid designs they could turn into reality. Whether remembered from her parents’ home or something she’d designed, he didn’t ask, avoiding the reminder of the tragic deaths altering her life. Her understanding of hardscaping as well as organic gardening rivaled a professional’s experience. He’d not doubted her intelligence or enthusiasm, yet underestimated the extent of her knowledge.

  “You know—I didn’t think to ask. Would you like to go scuba diving with the rest of us? My brothers and I love to go. Nate and Conner bring their girlfriends.”

  “Yes! I’m certified, though I haven’t gone in years and Uncle Tony sold my gear. My parents loved to dive. Graham always offered to take me, but we never got the chance…”

  “Does he have extra gear?”

  “No, but his partner does.” A frown punctuated her concern. “Graham wouldn’t leave without telling me.”

  “We’ll find him. Meanwhile, let’s visit the arboretum.”

  Only the radiance of his companion surpassed the beauty of the grounds. The morning sun shimmered in her dark locks and begged for his touch while intimate pathways through the botanical gardens held her in thrall, just as her beauty held him.

  She didn’t flinch when he placed a hand at her back, guiding her through the winding walkways of landscaped beauty. In moments, her tension dwindled to a relaxed posture and supple movements detailing a grace as natural as the living museum which they explored.

  Minutes drifted into hours while she catalogued her thoughts and expounded on how to incorporate his rough ideas that would provide hours of relaxation and peaceful contemplation in his own garden. He’d never understood the drive that overtook some to spend hours in their yards. Through her eyes, it became more than obligatory routine—it evolved into a retreat to unwind and soothe the soul.

  “You’re telling me that pulling weeds is calming and helps you loosen up?” He couldn’t resist bringing out the slight blush highlighting her classic cheekbones.

  “Absolutely. Have you ever used a mindless task to let your thoughts wander? It clears the mental fog. Besides, if the gardens are done properly, there really isn’t that much weeding necessary.”

  “Hmm, I’ve thought about putting in a pool. Maybe over dinner tonight, we can talk about designs and surrounding flower beds.”

  Her small gasp combined with the excitement in her voice firmed up the next goal A few ideas came to mind, but on a larger scale, not limited to her small budget.

  When he took her to lunch, none of the previous hesitancy surfaced. Her chatter throughout the meal elaborated on the types of plants she loved and how to start seedlings using inexpensive, homemade trays, newspaper, and paper pots.

  “So, I’m guessing you have a favorite nursery or two. Maybe some special folks that might remember you and your passion for gardening? I thought after lunch we could visit a few and see what they have.”

  “Oh, yes. That would be wonderful…But what about you? I don’t want to monopolize all your time.”

  “I planned today to be all about gardening. Nothing more. Except for locating Graham. Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll go and sit down with a landscape contractor, see what we can come up with. Maybe tonight we can get some preliminary designs down on paper. Oh, and I almost forgot—my attorney called—he’s rescheduled our appointment due to a court hearing. I gave him an outline of what you needed. He can easily see to it.” He also warned that paper doesn’t stop bullets or knives.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tours of her favorite nurseries dissolved the multi-year gap between visits as Julien observed proprietors not only remembering her parents, but Adara’s enthusiasm as well. Several dahlia specimens and a hybrid tea rose caught her eye and would make nice additions to his yard.

  The sun’s descent braided subtle scents of their surroundings with the colorful hues of the western sky to breathe in new inspiration free of psychopaths, greed, and vengeful co-workers while the abrupt changes in Adara’s life reminded him of the frailty of human
existence. Experience of losing friends in his special ops unit had taught him to appreciate special treasures such as Adara.

  When pausing en route to his vehicle, her smile morphed into concern as her gaze rested on the windshield. A thick envelope bulged under the wiper.

  “Something from your brothers?”

  “Probably.” A touch of the remote unlocked the car doors on approach. A surreptitious inspection of their surrounding yielded nothing to indicate imminent danger. “Let me grab it while you secure these on the back seat.” He set the two dahlias and tea rose beside the back passenger door. “There’s a couple of towels on the floor you can use to protect the seats.”

  “Okay, thanks. You think of everything.”

  “No problem. It’s certainly turning out to be a peaceful day.” His smile, meant to reassure, received a pasted facsimile in return.

  Instinct dictated the package contained an item of warning. Curiosity and a background dealing with thugs mandated he open the legal-sized, manila envelope with as little handling as possible.

  The contents were something he hadn’t seen since his military days. Disgust with the theatrical message challenged his ability to maintain a neutral expression.

  Turning his back to Adara, he used two fingers to tug on the plastic bag in the envelope. The macabre view greeting him forced a hard swallow despite the item’s lack of odor.

  “Jesus.”

  It was a human tongue, bloody with jagged edges. An indication of someone talking out of turn?

  The note beside the gift consisted of white, unlined, paper, soaked in blood. Mindful of where he put his fingers, he opened it to reveal block handwriting that issued a warning. Adara’s would make a better trophy. Leave her alone or she’s next. Handling the package by one corner, he slid the contents back, closed the flap, and pulled out his cell to make a call. Adara’s stalker just upped the ante.