In Dark Waters (11 page)

Damn. After her run-in with Boyd, she wasn't interested in chatting with Mrs. Randall. Kelsey let loose of the fins and walked over to the display case. She smiled at Mrs. Randall.

"Mrs. Randall, this is Kelsey Warren. She used to work in the shop and she's been diving all around the world for the last eight years. If anybody is up on the latest equipment, she is."

The woman's smile didn't falter, but for a moment, Kelsey felt a chill. The woman's gaze slid up and down Kelsey, taking in her attire and stance. She sensed she fell short in Sylvia Randall's eyes.

The moment of scrutiny passed as quickly as it came, and Sylvia recovered quickly. The perfect politician's wife, she extended her manicured hand to Kelsey.

Kelsey took Mrs. Randall's cold hand. "Hi."

"It's nice to meet you," the older woman said smoothly. "So you are the scuba expert?"

"I don't know if I'm an expert but I've dived a lot these last few years." She glanced at the three computers lying on the table. She picked up the first—a wristwatch-shaped computer. "You can't go wrong with any of these, but I prefer this one. It's pricey, but it is compact. It does well at all depths and because it's lightweight, it doesn't get in the way."

Sylvia accepted the wristwatch computer and held it in her small hands. She handed it to Stu without glancing at the one-thousand-dollar price tag. "Wrap it up."

Stu grinned. "Will do."

Sylvia dug out her credit card and set it on the case. Kelsey started to ease away, feeling her duty was done.

"Thanks for the help, Kelsey," Sylvia said, as if she wasn't ready to let her slip away. "I don't know the first thing about diving, but my husband loves it."

Kelsey remembered Boyd when he'd first showed an interest in diving. He visited the dive shop while she was in school, but Stu had told her that Boyd had spent hours in the pool learning all he could about the sport. "I'm sure he'll love the computer, Mrs. Randall."

"I hope so. And please call me Sylvia."

Kelsey felt as if she should say or do something but she didn't know what. She smiled and nodded.

"You know, you look a lot like your mother," Sylvia said.

The comment caught her off guard. Not because she hadn't heard it enough, but because it seemed odd that a woman like Sylvia Randall would even know Donna. She found herself hungry for any information about her mother. "You knew my mother?"

"You sound surprised."

"It's just that you two lived pretty different lives."

Sylvia's eyes warmed. "Grant's Forge is a small town. Everyone crosses everyone's path eventually."

Their paths had never crossed until now. "Did you two go to school together?"

The questions seemed to flatter Sylvia. "Oh no, I must be a good ten or twelve years older than your mother. No, I just saw her around town."

"Oh."
And
? Kelsey waited for the other shoe to drop. Everyone had a Donna Warren story.

"I believe she worked as a waitress at the University Club when she was in high school. She was quite stunning in those days." She smiled. "Just as you are now."

"Thanks." The information explained Boyd's reaction at the diner to her crack about him knowing Donna. Rich and unavailable had been Donna's type when she was younger. As she'd aged, she'd become less choosy.

"So you've been traveling the world? How very interesting."

"I've enjoyed it." There was some kind of undercurrent, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"And where have you been?"

"Fiji, Italy, Hawaii. I hope to go to Africa this winter."

"I adore Africa. Boyd and I went on a camera safari several years ago. He wasn't so fond of the heat, but I loved the desert. Breathtaking sunsets."

"Just need your John Hancock here," Stu said, interrupting them.

Sylvia turned, signed the receipt, tore off her copy and carefully replaced both her card and folded paper in her Hermes wallet. Her movements were so precise, as if she never wasted a bit of energy.

Kelsey imagined the woman made few mistakes or did anything without thinking it through. She edged back a step, grateful not to have Sylvia's penetrating gaze studying her.

Sylvia took the package. "Well, thank you again, Stu. And Kelsey, it was a real pleasure meeting you. Are you staying in town long?"

"A few weeks, maybe a month."

Sylvia smiled again. "Well, I hope you enjoy our fair town. You certainly have chosen the best time of year to visit us."

"Thanks."

Sylvia nodded and left.

Kelsey watched Sylvia climb into her Lexus V8. Only when the woman pulled out into traffic did she turn to Stu. "That was too easy."

"What do you mean?"

"She knew Donna, and she didn't have anything bad to say."

"Not everyone hated Donna."

Her gut said otherwise. "Sylvia Randall did."

"I didn't hate Donna," Stu said softly.

Kelsey stared at Stu. He'd been the only one who hadn't. "I've been meaning to ask you why? All those years you stuck by her, sent her money or helped her out when she needed it."

Stu dropped his gaze to the register and seemed to take a sudden interest in one of the buttons. "I don't know. She just seemed like a lost soul to me."

"I never thought of her as lost so much as selfish."

He shook his head. "She wasn't always like that. When you were born, I went to see her in the hospital. She'd stand at the nursery window, just crying because she thought you were so pretty."

Kelsey had never seen her mother cry, unless she had been trying to convince a police officer to let her out of a speeding ticket. The image Stu conjured touched a part of her heart she'd long closed off. She blew out a breath to relieve the sudden pressure in her chest. She needed to change the subject. "You can bet Sylvia never saw the tender side of Donna."

He shook his head. "You're right."

Kelsey sensed Stu had left a lot unsaid and she was ready to question him further when the bells on the front door jingled. She turned and saw Mitch stride into the shop. His brown sheriff's uniform shirt stretched over his broad chest. His creases were crisp and a shiny silver badge winked in the sunlight. He pulled off his aviators and blue eyes settled on her.

Her heart kicked.

She regretted being so abrupt with him last night.

"Kelsey," Mitch said. His deep baritone voice struck a chord inside her that had her wishing she had fewer hormones and more brains.

She nodded, not quite able to trust her voice.

"Hey, Mitch," Stu said. "Got any news on Chris?"

"No."

"Stu," she said. "Is there anything I can do to help? Do you need help with the shop?"

"No way, honey," he said.

"I don't mind helping." Work kept her sane.

"You just found out your mother died, Kelsey. You just worry about yourself."

She'd had a long, good cry last night. "Donna's been out of my life for ten years. I've known all along she wasn't coming back. But this business with Chris, you just saw him a couple of days ago. You're going to find him aren't you, Mitch?"

Mitch hesitated. His expression reflected a mixture of sadness, wishful thinking and hard reality. She could see he struggled with all three. And it was that struggle that had her heart opening to him. He might have broken her heart eight years ago, but he cared about Stu. In that moment, Kelsey saw Mitch for the good, decent man he had become.

"Let's just take this a step at a time, Stu. Let me handle this," Mitch said.

Stu's shoulders slumped, as if the burden of worrying over a friend was too great for him. "Okay."

Mitch looked squarely at Kelsey. "Might not be a bad idea if you two stick together today. You're good for each other."

"Where are you headed?" she asked. It was none of her business, but a part of her wanted to delay his departure for just another moment or two.

He lifted a brow, surprised by the question. "To the quarry."

She straightened. "Why?"

"The crews from Roanoke are coming today and we're going back down to investigate."

Kelsey itched to go with him. She wanted to be a part of the investigation. She wanted to know who had shot her mother. But Stu was upset and she sensed her place was here with him.

"I don't suppose Kelsey could tag along with you?" Stu said.

Kelsey didn't hide her shock. "I thought I'd hang out with you today. I've been itching to have a look at those dive computers I saw earlier."

Stu shook his head. "I got too much work to nursemaid you." The old buzzard knew she wanted in on the investigation.

"She can't come, Stu," Mitch said.

"See, Stu?" Kelsey said, shaking off the twinge of annoyance Mitch had stirred. "The Big Bad here says I can't tag along, so I might as well stay with you."

Stu shook his head. "Now I've seen it all. Kelsey and Mitch agreeing on something."

"Don't get carried way, Stu," Kelsey said.

Stu arched a thick gray eyebrow. "You want to go?"

Yeah, sure she did. She wanted to go more than anything. "I'll stay here."

Stu looked at Mitch. "Do me a favor and get this woman out of my hair." He touched his balding head. "Or at least what's left of it. I really do have work to do. I don't want Chris returning and busting my chops for shirking."

Mitch studied the old man. The idea of taking Kelsey didn't appeal to him at all, but he wanted to help Stu out. "All right, I'll take her."

Neither Kelsey nor Mitch said much as he drove through the town streets toward the quarry. The day was stunning. The skies were a brilliant crystal-blue, the air warm and a gentle breeze teased the tops of the trees.

Yet for all the day's beauty, Kelsey felt sick inside. Old emotions she'd tried so hard to bury bubbled to the surface, tightening her throat.

"What's wrong?" Mitch said.

His deep voice surprised her. "Nothing."

He glanced at her quickly then back to the road. "You look like you're about to jump out of your skin."

"I'm fine."

"No one's going to give you a medal for going to the quarry. Why don't you let me take you back home?"

"I'm good."

From the corner of her eye, she could see his jaw tense. "You're too damn stubborn."

She shrugged. "Not exactly breaking news."

He slowed the car and pulled off to the side of the road. "That does it."

"What!"

"When you start acting like a smart-ass I know you're upset."

She couldn't see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but she imagined they snapped with anger. "I cracked a couple of wise remarks to ease the tension."

"You're scared."

Terrified was more like it. "
I'm fine
. But I'll admit I have a lousy sense of humor. Look, I want to go to the quarry."

"Not until you tell me what's eating you?"

If only she could. She shrugged, hoping he'd get tired of the questions and just start driving again. "
Nothing
!"

"Not good enough."

Having him this close unsettled her. "Start driving and maybe I'll start talking."

"Start talking and
maybe
I'll drive." To prove his point, he shut off the engine, leaned back in his seat and pulled off his sunglasses. "I'm all ears."