Derek was upset because Nick was here.”
Brett’s cheeks reddened even more. “He would say that, don’t you think? He’d want to divert attention from himself. Never mind. I’m not making any sense.”
Nick noticed perspiration on Brett’s forehead but he kept his coat on. “Does Feehan have the knowledge and capability to pull off the fire that killed Cutshaw?” Nick asked.
“I don’t know,” Brett said in a low voice.
“What about Cutshaw?”
Brett turned ashen and didn’t answer.
Zack Harper shrugged and polished off the last of his wine, setting the glass on the table. “How much knowledge does it take to set yourself or someone else on fire?”
Rose turned to Brett, and Nick noticed she was slightly pale herself. “Do you have any idea where Robert could be now?” she asked.
Brett wiped his sweaty brow with the heel of his hand and shook his head. “I told the state detective who interviewed me that I’d let them know if Robert contacts me, or if I remember anything else—friends, favorite spots.”
Rose stayed focused on him. “How well did you all know the Whittakers?”
“I didn’t know them at all. I’m not sure about Derek or Robert.”
“I suppose it’s possible Robert stayed at the guesthouse but the Whittakers left the old kerosene lamp there, and he just used it. Did any of you have a key?”
“I didn’t,” Brett said.
“The apartment where we found the camping gear is the one Kyle Rigby used in November. Could Rigby have given Robert or Derek a key?”
“I don’t remember ever running into Rigby,” Brett said, frowning. “The police asked me about him. Robert, Derek and I talked about what happened in November. Of course we did. I don’t think they knew Rigby, either.”
“What about contacts in California?” Nick asked.
Brett seemed surprised by the question. “We all know people in California. We’ve all taught skiing out West. I’ve taken up enough of your time. You all have a good night. I’m sorry about all this. I wish I’d known what was going on and had found out a way to stop it from happening.”
Nick set his wineglass on a tray as Brett Griffin and Zack Harper left together. Rose rejoined Myrtle at the table and consulted drafting paper they had unfurled with drawings for how to set up the ballroom for the winter fest auction and dance. Nick had no doubt Myrtle had listened in on as much of the conversation as she could.
Lauren Cameron smiled faintly next to him and nodded to her husband across the room, their children chasing him, giggling as he let them catch him. “A.J. hates for any of us to be out of his sight.”
“Understandably,” Nick said.
“Maybe so,” she said, “but I refuse to live in fear. I did that before I moved up here. A.J.’s actually the one who helped me get past my fear. I was escaping a difficult relationship. I thought I had it well behind me, but it had an insidious effect on my ability to trust myself. Here I was, a strong woman…” She didn’t finish. “Matters of the heart sometimes require the greatest strength of all.”
“You fell for a bastard?”
A twitch of humor played at the corners of her mouth. “I did, yes.”
“And we’re talking about Rose here, too, aren’t we?”
“Could be,” she said diplomatically.
“Wasn’t your fault. Sometimes you can’t see a bastard coming. The really good ones know how to charm you, reel you in. You just have to fight your way out of the net and move on.”
“You’re not terribly controlling, are you?”
“Only person I can or want to control is myself.”
“Rose is strong, but she’s also very proud,” Lauren said, her eyes warm with emotion. “Her missteps seem magnified with three older brothers. I had no idea about her and Derek. A.J. didn’t, either. Nick…are we safe? You’d tell us if you had reason to believe we weren’t, wouldn’t you?”
He wanted to reassure her, but wasn’t sure he could. “Law enforcement knows everything I know.”
She acknowledged his words with a quick intake of breath, then a nod as she continued. “Beth was with Grit this morning.” Lauren seemed to struggle to find the right words. “I saw Scott earlier. He was as stoic as ever, but Beth discovering that poor woman with Grit can’t have gone over well with him.”
A.J. had scooped up both children and perched one on each arm. Lauren mumbled something to Nick and returned to her family. A.J.’s expression softened as she approached him. He looked less flinty, less fearful and angry.
Nick saw Rose noticing, too. Her eyes connected with his, and she quickly grabbed her coat and moved out into the hall.
Her brother’s gaze lifted over the towheaded curls of his daughter, and Nick saw that the eldest Cameron was ready to go after her. Nick left A.J. with his wife and children and followed Rose.
He caught up with her in the parking lot. “I figure you didn’t wait just so you could get me out here in the cold without a coat.”
“Why would I wait for you? I’m going home.” She nodded toward the lodge. “Go back and enjoy the fire. I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow. You deserve a bed tonight.”
“So I do.”
She obviously realized her mistake and got out her keys. “I’m not a target if Derek and Robert were fighting over drugs. I’ll lock my doors. Ranger will alert me if anyone tries to get in.”
“And what will you do, hide under the bed? You’re alone up there.”
“What difference does that make? Robert’s had his chance if he wanted to hurt me. Maybe he just wanted to hurt Derek and now that he’s succeeded, he’s on the run.”
“Rose.”
She sighed and shook her head at him. “Remind me never to sit across a conference table from you. All right. Thank you for your concern for my safety.” She seemed to make an effort to smile. “Go get your coat. Take your car. That way Ranger and I don’t have to come back here.”
“You’re in denial about what’s going on.”
“I’m not in denial.”
Nick didn’t argue. He returned to his room and grabbed his coat. He could be on a plane in the morning and in his condo by tomorrow night.
He headed back outside to his cold car.
A state cruiser was in Rose’s driveway when Nick pulled in behind her Jeep. She had Ranger at her side and was talking with Scott Thorne at the bottom of the front steps. The trooper glanced at Nick but was grim, distracted. “I tried calling Beth,” Thorne said. “Have you talked to her, Rose? I just want to know she’s all right.”
“I spoke to her, Sean and Hannah earlier this afternoon,” Rose said. “Beth’s okay.”
“Grit Taylor’s still there?”
“Yes, as far as I know.”
Thorne kept his attention on Rose. “I wish Beth had gone shopping with Hannah instead. She went out there to enjoy the so-called good life. Beverly Hills is fine for a visit, but I have no desire to live there. I don’t know much for sure, but I know I’ll never be rich, or live in Southern California.”
Nick wasn’t offended. He’d said the same thing when he’d enlisted in the navy a year out of high school.
“Do you think that’s what Beth wants?” Rose asked.
Thorne shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.” He sighed, clearly uncomfortable with his reasons for being there. “I should go.”
“Beth’s coming back.” Rose gently rubbed Ranger behind an ear. “Black Falls is home for her. Beverly Hills isn’t what’s come between you two, anyway. You think you both work in the same sandbox. Jo being back in town just brought it all home to you, but she’s a federal agent—Beth’s a paramedic. Her work’s not the same as yours.”
“Thanks for the analysis,” Thorne said through gritted teeth.
