Distortion Control (A Makayla Rose Mystery Book 3) (9 page)

Chapter Nine

No one could accuse me of having a plan. I had thought only as far as a knock on the door a few times and then go to the office and pretend I had either lost my key or that I was worried my boyfriend might be sick and needed a doctor. See? Great detective, right? I know. Let’s move on.

I knocked again. Still no answer. I groaned, not wanting to follow through with the second part of the plan. I didn’t believe I was that good of an actress. In retrospect, Ash might have been able to convince the front office staff to let him into the room. He might even have taught me a thing or two about getting it done. Unfortunately, I was on my own.

The parking lot held a few cars, and if I recognized Ash’s, it might have helped. Up until then, I had met him on foot each time, and we had ridden in my car. With an ear pressed to the panels of the door, I tried to pick up any sounds from within. All lay in silence.

I reached for the doorknob, determining I wouldn’t look like a fool on the off chance it was unlocked. To my utter shock, it was, and the knob turned beneath my palm. I swallowed and pushed the door inward. The stench of alcohol stormed me, and I waved a hand before my nose.

Before I was caught, I stepped inside and closed the door. All light disappeared, and I was plunged into darkness. A quick twitch of the heavy curtains with what felt like vinyl backing, and I managed a sliver of illumination. I froze. Ash lay atop a double bed on his back, one arm slung over the side and an empty bottle just out of reach.

I waited, and he choked before starting to snore.
If Pattie could see you now.
I tiptoed over to the bed and decided he was down for the count. He might not wake for hours. While I didn’t prefer to snoop while he was in the room, this might be as good a time as any.

Ash seemed to be living out of a duffel bag, which made searching simpler being in one place but cramped as I had to dig through the bag. At the bottom, beneath piles of unfolded clothes, my fingers brushed something familiar. I drew out a picture and walked to the window to examine it better. The photo had been taken at a poolside. My guess was it was a private one, maybe at Spencer and Penelope’s home in Virginia.

Ash leaned an elbow on Spencer’s shoulder, and Penelope sat at her husband’s side, dressed in a one-piece apple green bathing suit, a wraparound covering her legs. From the perfect state of her hair, I guessed she hadn’t been in the water, but both men were bare-chested, and their skin glistened with water.

I chewed a thumbnail, staring. The Norwood men were yummy, after all. So, was Ash elbowing in on the couple’s private time, or did he make a habit of hanging out with them? Neither Spencer nor Penelope seemed put off by his presence. Obviously someone else was there who had taken the picture, maybe one of the other siblings.

The picture disappeared from my grasp, and I squeaked in alarm. Ash stood behind me, glaring. “What are you doing snooping through my stuff?”

“III…” No excuse came to mind, and how could it. He must know where he had hidden the picture. I couldn’t claim to have thought he was in trouble and stumbled in the darkness to land on top of the bag. Could I? The ridiculous explanation hung on the tip of my tongue.

He bared his teeth in the dim lighting, and I had the impression of a wild animal. “Mind your business, Makayla. It’s safer.” He spun away to stomp over to his bag. I noted as he retreated, he didn’t wear a shirt, and he was in the same shape now as he was in the photo.

Dismissing thoughts of his physical attributes, I drew myself up. Makayla Rose did not back down to anyone. “What was your relationship with Penelope?”

He swung around to face me. I couldn’t see his expression very well, so I threw the curtains back farther, flooding the room with light. He squinted and raised a hand to his eyes. “Jeez, my head is killing me. Do you have to do that?”

“Don’t change the subject, Ash.” I strode closer. “I want to know. Were you having an affair with Penelope?”

His eyes bugged, and his mouth fell open. Where he had been shocked a moment before, I watched as the emotions flitted over his countenance. Seconds later, I couldn’t have told you what he was thinking or what was real or faked. Ash didn’t respond for a long time. When he did, my respect and attraction to him plummeted.

“Yes, I did. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Why would I want to? I’m disappointed in you. Spencer is your brother.”

Something flitted in his gaze that reminded me of my own past. I had no right to judge him, and I shut down any additional comments I might have made. I swung toward the door.

“Makayla.”

I paused and looked back. His expression was cold, charm gone.

“I’m not going to explain myself to you, and I expect you to stay out of my room. And…”

“And what?” I demanded.

This time I did see a small vulnerability in him before it disappeared. “I need to know if you’re going to mention this to Spencer.”

I gaped. “Why would I want to hurt him? His wife is dead.
Murdered.
”

What was I thinking, emphasizing the word that way? Ash took a step in my direction, but I backpedaled to the door and bumped into it. My fingers searched blindly for the knob, and when I found it, I jerked the door wide before fleeing through it.

By the time I reached my car and sat inside with the power locks thrown, I panted. Ashamed, embarrassed, confused, I waited until I calmed down and turned over the engine to head out. I had wanted to believe Ash was a good guy. Now I didn’t know what to think. He didn’t attempt to follow me, and I thought it might be my imagination that he seemed alarmed that I had fled from him. I could be mistaken.

The next morning, I stared at my computer screen without comprehending a single shot I had downloaded from my camera. The colors blurred before my eyes, and try as I might, I couldn’t get my mind to focus. These particular ones were of the progress of Peony’s shop and the new appearance of the inside. Peony had had the workmen move the counter and the stove from being the focus and holding center court to occupying the space just outside the actual kitchen. To everyone involved, it made much more sense.

My problem came in with this series of shots themselves, and I needed to work my magic. The prospect of fixing errors always excited me and could keep my head down for hours at a time. Even my appetite couldn’t compete. Yet, today, I was worse than useless.

The sound of a car pulling into my lot distracted me, and I frowned. A quick check of my schedule showed no clients due. This was a day for editing and for hopefully hearing news from Paul.

The door opened, and I went still. Ash’s broad shoulders took up the entrance, and he stepped into my tiny space then shut the door behind him. Doubtful he would attack in broad daylight, right?
Wait, you were already attacked in broad daylight, Makayla.

I used the only weapon I had on me at the time—the cold shoulder. “What can I do for you, Ash?”

He flashed a smile,
his
weapon of choice. I think his was sharper. He affected a shiver. “Whoa, chilly. I’m here to make peace.”

I raised my chin and turned back to my computer screen. “I wasn’t aware we were at war.”

He strode over and took a moment to study my pictures. “Nice place. That across the street?”

“Observant,” I said in a dry tone. He chuckled.

“If you don’t hold my mistakes against me, I’m willing to look past the fact that you’re a woman who can’t keep her nose out of other people’s business.”

I gasped. “How dare you?”

“Is it a deal?”

His grin widened, and he stuck out his hand. I hesitated, and he stooped beside my chair, bringing his handsome face way too close. The silver eyes twinkled bright and clear, but they reminded me of eyes I would rather see and couldn’t. I found myself wondering how Ash took it knowing he had been with Penelope but she had still loved Spencer.

“Hello?” Ash prompted.

“I suppose it can’t hurt if we work together,” I said.

“Good.” He straightened. “Besides, Spencer would kill me if I don’t protect you.”

“Don’t be dramatic, Ash.” I closed out the files since I wasn’t going to get them done today.

“You’re either being modest, or you truly don’t realize my brother’s into you.”

“If you recall, we broke it off.”

“Interesting.”

I scraped back my chair—as much as it could scrape on a plastic mat over carpet—and stood. A glare didn’t wipe the dang smirk from his face, but at least with it there, my fear had all but dissipated. I knew right away that was his intention. He knew I had run from him in fear, and he was being obnoxious to nip it. Gratitude flooded me, and I relaxed.

I folded my arms over my chest. “All right, Detective Norwood, you’re going to prove yourself to me.”

“Am I? Mm, sounds fun.”

“I don’t know about fun, but it will be a big help.
If
you can do it, that is.”

“You’re trying to motivate me by issuing a challenge, Makayla?” He shook his head as if disappointed. “What do you want me to do?”

Darn, so manipulation was out. Well, I had to take the direct approach. “We need to find out who helped Penelope pull off the supposed kidnapping. Is it possible for you to check into who she might have used? Spencer mentioned servants. Surely, you know some or all of them?”

He rubbed his jaw, thinking about it. “She did have regulars, but most were retainers from her parents. I can’t imagine them helping with this harebrained scheme, but Penelope went through personal assistants like water.”

“Personal assistant? Like a secretary?” I turned to look at the pile of bills, contracts, and other paperwork on the edge of my desk, along with books on the desk, on the floor, the table, and atop the file cabinet I hadn’t gotten around to putting away. “Must be wonderful.”

“Now, now,” he chided, amused. “We all have our crosses.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, well, I won’t speak ill of the dead. So, can you do it?”

“I’ll make some calls back home.”

“Thank you.”

“What will you do?”

I didn’t want to say. “I have a couple of leads I want to follow. I’ll get back to you soon if I find out anything. For now, would you please promise to answer your phone when I call? I assure you, I won’t do it unless I have to.”

He laid a hand over his chest. “You wound me, Makayla. I thought we were making progress to something more serious.”

I offered him a wide-eyed, innocent look with my head tilted to the side. “Nope.”

He laughed. “Fine. We’ll keep it to the case…for now.”

He waved as he left, and I had the feeling I wasn’t done rebuffing his advances. Ash was either arrogant enough to believe every woman wanted him, or some internal mechanism never let him stop trying to win over the female population. I wavered between both explanations but then dismissed him from my thoughts. What I intended to do weighed heavier and had a lot more trepidation tearing through my system.

After I had done a search of the internet and made a couple calls of my own, I phoned David. He answered cheerily on the third ring. “Makayla, what are you doing? Charming the detective?”

“Very funny, David. No, I need you.”

“Honey, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, but unless you need me to mix you a drink or make you laugh, I doubt I can meet any needs.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Men! Listen, I want you to go with me to an appointment I just made. Please, tell me you can get away from the shop about four?”

“For you, of course. What are we doing? Shopping? I know a great place—”

“David, focus.”

“Yes, okay. You tell me.”

I bit my lip. “I want to go to a hypnotist.”

David, my very dramatic friend, let out a squeal of alarm. “Isn’t that some type of hoodoo? Won’t he make you cluck like a chicken or bark when you hear a bell?”

“It’s a very reputable process,” I assured him, quoting the website I had read from. I knew no more than he did, but on the off chance it worked for me, I wanted to try. “You’re going with me to make sure the commands aren’t crazy if I fall into a deep trance.”

“I have to go in there?” His voice rose and cracked. I began to wonder if inviting him was the best idea.

“I don’t have anyone else to look out for me.” I had considered phoning Edna, but she was in the middle of a baking spree to see what worked best for Peony’s store. I knew she was having the time of her life, and I didn’t want to interrupt her. I had other friends in Briney Creek, but no one as close as Edna and David. I was too embarrassed to ask Ash to be there. Besides, I didn’t fully trust him. Spencer would have frowned on it, I was sure, and try to keep me from going.

“Oh, honey.” David made a sound of sympathy. “Well, I’m on it! You can count on me, and if that voodoo doctor tries anything, I’ll crack him over the head.”

“You’re not helping my nerves one bit, David.”

“Sorry,” he sing-songed, sounding quite happy with himself for acting as my protector. “Four o’clock. I’ll close the shop. Traffic has slowed down now that it’s so darn chilly. It’ll pick up again in a couple weeks with the Christmas season. Then I’ll be a busy bee again. You caught me at the right time.”