Heart of Lies (6 page)

Worry unraveled her thoughts and kept them jumping like fleas on a wet dog as she scuttled around the dock, pulling up the nets and tossing her crab catch into a bucket.

She’d spent three days waiting for the twins to return, anxious to get back to Anita’s, collect Penelope, and take her home. Anita had been on her own with the child far too long. In payment, Maddie intended to give the woman her crab catch. She owed Anita much more.

She lowered the bucket into the pirogue, straightened, and then stared off in the direction of New Orleans and wondered what was keeping the twins.

She was headed back inside when she heard someone shout hello. Maddie walked through the house, picked up her shotgun, and made sure it was loaded before she went out the back door. She wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

A stranger stood on the small trail behind the house that led through the marsh and out to the road to Clearwater. He was leading a fine chestnut horse that was worth a pretty penny. His eyes
were hidden beneath the shadow cast by the wide brim of his low-crowned hat. Dark stubble covered the lower half of his face. All she could tell from a distance was that he had a straight nose, even features, full lips, and the slightest cleft in his chin. His looks gave her pause, and she studied him carefully. He was handsome, she’d give him that. She’d married a man with similar dark hair and eyes — but the last thing she needed or wanted right now was a man.

“Hold it right there, mister.” She aimed the gun at his chest and held it steady.

He slowly raised his free hand to his hat and pulled it off in a move that gave her a better look at his face. His hair was black; so were his brows. They had a slight cynical arch to them. His eyes were dark, and even though he was a few yards away, his gaze held hers longer than she liked. Long enough to make her uncomfortable. His eyes kept his secrets well hidden.

His smile was slow in coming and fleeting when it finally appeared. He took her measure as sure as she took his. His expression was unreadable.

“Are you the Grande twins’ sister?” He put his hat back on, his gaze returning to the shotgun in her hands.

“Who wants to know?”

He sure didn’t have the look of any lawman she’d ever seen, but a body couldn’t be too careful. His jacket was raggedy, his trousers worn and stained at the hems. His brown, watermarked boots had seen better days, and there was a rusty spot on the front of his shirt that very well could have been blood. She made note of his sidearm. Even without a weapon, he posed a threat.

“My name is Tom Abbott,” he said. “Lawrence told me where to find you.”

“He’s not here.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here.”

Maddie’s heart stumbled. “What about?”

“Terrance is in jail.”

Terrance in
jail
?

“What about Lawrence? Where is he?”

Still clutching the reins in one hand, he took a step toward her.

She leveled the shotgun. “Hold it right there and start at the beginning. I’d just as soon plug you as not, sir. The gators around here are not particular about what they eat,” she warned.

He stopped moving.

“Mind if I at least tether my horse?” He studied the cabin behind her and then met her gaze again. She shifted the weapon, using it to point out a hitching post to his left.

“Throw down your gun first,” she ordered.

He nodded to show he understood. Her hands tightened on the shotgun as he slowly reached for the handle of the Colt and slipped it out of its leather holster. Bending his knees, he sank low, stretched out his arm, and carefully set the weapon on the ground.

“Go on, then.” She indicated the hitching post again with a tilt of her head. “Tie up your horse.”

He led the animal to the post, looped the reins, and then glanced again at the cabin. She ignored his curiosity.

“Now start talking,” she ordered.

“Your brothers were suspected of kidnapping. They were wanted for questioning by the New Orleans police.”

She tried to hide her shock. The twins had always gotten away with their crimes. What he told her hardly rang true.

“You keep saying ‘were.’ Did they confess?” Careful, Maddie warned herself. Be very careful. “Where are they now?”

“Well, as I said, Terrance has been jailed.”

“For kidnapping?” She hoped she looked disbelieving. She could see Abbott was hedging.

Finally he said, “For resisting arrest, shooting a police officer, and murder. He hasn’t confessed to the kidnapping yet.”

“What about Lawrence? Is he in jail.”

“Maybe you should sit down.”

Maddie took a deep breath. “Say it, mister.”

“Lawrence is dead.”

Her mind raced as she tried to grasp it all. Terrance hadn’t confessed to anything and Lawrence was
dead.

“How? How did he die?”

“He was shot. By your brother.”

Terrance
killed
Lawrence? Was it an accident? Or had Terrance made certain his twin held his silence? It was nearly unthinkable, but she wouldn’t put it past him.

“Do you know anything about a kidnapping, Miss Grande?”

She nearly blurted everything out until the intensity in his stare stopped her cold.

“I … they didn’t much tell me what they were up to.” Not a lie. Not the truth. “You’re a policeman?”

“No. I’m a Pinkerton.” He held up one hand. “If I may …” He carefully opened his jacket to reveal the Pinkerton Agency badge pinned inside.

“A Pinkerton.” She was still trying to wrap her mind around Lawrence being dead, and now this.

“A private detective.”

“I know what a Pinkerton is.” Just as she knew good and well that if she told him about hiding the child for the twins, if she led him to Anita, both of them would be implicated in the crime as accomplices.

“If you do know anything about a missing child, you could make it easier on yourself by confessing. Your cooperation might help lessen your time in prison.”

Her ears were ringing, but not so loud that she didn’t hear him mention prison.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Abbott.”

Abbott was still watching her closely. She pictured Lawrence, dying of a bullet wound. Had he known Terrance shot him? Lawrence couldn’t abide having as much as a hangnail. If he’d been arrested, the police would have gotten the truth out of him without hardly trying. Terrance hadn’t talked or the law would be here, not just one Pinkerton.

The minute Abbott found out Penelope Perkins was being held against her will, then she’d be as guilty as her brothers.

Sweat dampened her hairline and trickled down her temple. The heavy gray sky hung so low it looked close enough to touch the tips of the cypress trees. It was too sultry to think. She wished there was at least a lick of breeze.

Aware of the detective, she knew she had to pull herself together. If she could just get rid of him, demand a ransom for the child, and then turn her over to her parents, she would have a stake for the future. It wouldn’t have to be much. Just enough to help her start over on her own.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when Tom Abbott touched her shoulder. She took a step back and wondered how he’d managed to sidle up so close.

“Miss Grande? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I’m trying to wrap my mind around what you just told me.”

“I’m sorry about your brother. Mind if I have a drink of water?”

He didn’t look sorry. She doubted he was really thirsty.

“You said your piece,” she told him, “and I thank you for bringing word. Help yourself to some water out of that rain barrel at the corner of the cabin and then be on your way.”

He shrugged and looked around the unkempt yard.

She wanted him gone. She wanted to go inside and collect herself. To come to grips with Lawrence’s death and the notion that Terrance was in jail. If it wasn’t for Penelope, she’d be free to do whatever she wanted. Her stomach was in knots.

She turned, forgetting that he was so close, and nearly ran into him. His dark eyes gave away nothing. His stare was completely disarming. She found herself inexplicably drawn to him and took a step back.

“I’m real sorry I had to bring you bad news,” he told her.

“I thank you,” she said, “for your trouble.” He had come a long way to deliver it. It was a far piece back to the city too.

“It’s obvious you’re innocent.” His conclusion surprised her but she tried to relax, to appear as if he was right. She needed to keep him believing she had no knowledge of the kidnapping. No part in it. With Penelope safely out of sight at Anita’s, there was no harm in putting his mind at ease.

“I guess you may as well come in and have some coffee. I fixed up some biscuits earlier. You’re welcome to have some.”

“What about my gun?”

She’d forgotten all about it. He could have grabbed it but hadn’t.

She walked over to where it lay on the ground, bent, and picked it up.

“I’d prefer to hang on to it for a while,” she told him and then added, “if you don’t mind.”

“You’re one suspicious lady.” He lifted his hat and wiped his brow with the stained cuff of his sleeve.

“It’s a dangerous world, Mr. Abbott. A body can’t be too careful.”

She was beside him again. Together they turned to walk toward the cabin.

“This is a far cry from New Orleans,” he said.

“I feel safe here.” As they continued to dance politely around each other, she was forced to keep her stewing emotions hidden. She pointed to the rain barrel. “There’s the water.”

Abbott walked over to the barrel, took the ladle down off the nail on the side of the cabin, and dipped himself a drink. She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed it in three long gulps.

Just then thunder ripped through the air and the sky opened up, shaking the ground beneath them. Across the yard, his horse reared and strained against the reins. Its eyes rolled wildly.

“Put him in the shed,” she hollered over the pelting rain. “Looks like a bad one.”

Together they dashed across the yard. Abbott untied the chestnut gelding and followed Maddie into the small shed that smelled
of muck and old leather. She watched him move with purpose in the shadows. She wasn’t exactly a petite woman, but Tom Abbott was still a good head taller. His wide shoulders filled out his jacket, straining the seams. Unlike the twins, this man was fit and firm. He had no gut hanging over his waistband.

She glanced outside to where rain fell in sheets. She thought of the pirogue tied at the dock and the crabs in the bucket. She couldn’t afford to lose the craft.

“We’ll have to make a run for it,” she told him. “You go first.”

She nodded toward the door on the back wall of the cabin. Abbott didn’t hesitate as he took off running with his hand on his hat.

By the time they reached the building they were completely drenched. Maddie stepped inside the back door, aware of the way the worn fabric of her sopping dress clung to her. She ignored her discomfort, afraid to call unwanted attention. Her long hair was heavy, dripping down her back.

She turned away from Abbott, propping her gun against the wall near the sink. When she glanced over her shoulder she caught him looking around the shack. With his attention elsewhere, she quickly slipped his Colt behind a large tin of flour on a shelf. He took off his weather-beaten hat, brushed off the water droplets, and continued to gaze around. He gave the impression he wasn’t really interested in what he saw, but she had no doubt everything he did was with purpose.

“You can put your saddlebags on one of the twins’ beds.” She pointed across the room.

He turned, his expression one of surprise.

Color rushed to her cheeks. “It’s just temporary, Mr. Abbott. You won’t be sleeping here.”

“I never assumed so, ma’am.”

“It’s Madeline. Folks call me Maddie.”

His stare never wavered. “You’re welcome to call me Tom.”

She went over to the stove, stirred the coals to life, and put a
Dutch oven over the front burner. While she was still soaked, she figured she might as well go back out and check the lines to make sure the pirogue was tightly lashed to the dock. She left the door open as she hurried out, glancing back now and again to keep an eye on Abbott. He’d walked to the door to watch her through the rain as she grabbed the crab bucket. He stepped aside to let her back in.

“Now you’re really drenched.” Abbott looked around until he noticed a towel on a peg near her bed. He grabbed it as she stood just inside the threshold, her rain-soaked skirt dripping on the floor.

The rain pelting against the tin roof sounded as if it would bring the cabin down. Thunder cracked again, closer this time.

“Thank you.” She raised her voice over the din. His gesture hadn’t gone unnoticed. Neither of the twins would have lifted a finger to get her a dry towel, or anything else for that matter. She warned herself not to let her guard down, not even a fraction. “A body might take you for a gentleman, Mr. Abbott.”

“Tom. And I’m hardly a gentleman.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin.

“I hope you’re enough of one to have a seat and turn your back while I put on some dry clothes,” she told him.

He pulled out a chair and sat with his back to her. “I never argue with a lady when she’s got a shotgun within reach.”

T
om listened to Maddie’s footsteps as she moved around the room. She’d been a surprise since the moment he’d laid eyes on her. He hadn’t really known what to expect of a woman raised the way she had been, a woman who had grown up on the wrong side of the law. He certainly hadn’t expected Madeline Grande. She appeared to be in her mid-to late twenties, long limbed, lean and elegant, despite her faded dress. Her rich, dark hair was nearly black. Thick and wavy, it hung loose past her shoulders. Her eyes were huge, deep brown with a hint of hazel. They were full of intelligence and speculation. Pale copper freckles, prominent across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, dusted her skin all over.

Miss Maddie Grande was actually a pleasant surprise. The minute he laid eyes on her, he realized she fit the description of Megan Lane, except she appeared younger than thirty-two. Finding Penelope Perkins was more important right now. He’d question Maddie about Megan Lane later. The fact that Penelope Perkins was nowhere to be seen was a heavy disappointment. As far as he could tell, there was no place to have hidden her in the cabin, no side rooms, no closets or armoires. There had been no cupboards, no hidey-holes in the shed. If Madeline knew about the kidnapping, she wasn’t about to let on. If her brothers were involved and she knew nothing of it, she had nothing to tell, but if she did know
where Penelope was,
if she
was hiding the girl for them, then sooner or later he’d find out. For now he couldn’t afford to have her panic and do anything rash.