whatever we have to discuss will stop us from getting married? Or that I would really hold something that happened
She didn’t answer. It seemed every time she tried to speak, she made things worse between them.
All Sharon could do now was throw herself into the search for her blackmailer…and see what happened between her and Richard when all was said and done.
DEREK DROPPED HOLLY OFF with his father for lunch. No sooner was she gone than he turned to Gabrielle. “What was in the note?” he asked. He’d been dying to know for the past half hour.
“A name.” She pulled the paper out of her bag. “Does the name Harry Winters mean anything to you?”
Derek narrowed his gaze. “That’s the guy who lives near my uncle Edward. His only neighbor. If anyone in town is as much of a loner as my uncle, it would be Harry Winters.”
Gabrielle leaned back in her seat. “Any idea why Mary Perkins’s former assistant thinks the name would be important to me?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I’ll tell you on the way.” He shifted the SUV into Drive.
“On the way where?”
“To pay Mr. Winters a visit. I think we’re about to make the connection between who wants you out of town and why.”
Ten minutes later, Derek pulled onto the long road that led to his uncle’s house. He’d visited Edward on his arrival back home, but he hadn’t been here since. He had his reasons.
Gabrielle glanced out the car window at the trees lining the road. “Are those jujus?” she asked, incredulously staring at the items hanging from tree branches.
Derek nodded. “How the hell do you know about jujus?” He hadn’t known until his most recent visit.
Apparently his uncle had decided to do whatever he could to ward off the curse and any other impending evil by learning about New Orleans voodoo. He’d decided to obtain jujus-objects made from something that had once been alive, tree bark among other things-as protection.
“You’ve obviously never read one of my books!” she said, laughing and accusing him at the same time.
His face flushed hot. “Guilty. I’ve always been curious, but I don’t get a lot of time to read.”
She shook her head softly. “It’s okay,” she told him. “I’m just busting your chops. But you can’t conduct research on the paranormal and odd cultural beliefs without coming across at least one reference to jujus.”
They came to the end of the road where two lone houses came into view.
“Is that a
He nodded and groaned. “You can get a better look up close. There are several of them. My uncle heard that they offered protection. He took it a little far,” Derek said wryly.
“You think?” Her sarcasm and amusement were clear.
He parked and turned her way. “I can’t leave my SUV in plain view and not stop in and say hello to my uncle. If he makes you uncomfortable, you can wait here. I won’t be long.” Derek started to get out of the vehicle.
“Wait!” Her eyes lit up unexpectedly. “I’d love to say hello to your uncle.”
“And get a look at his craziness firsthand?” He’d hoped to keep his ornery uncle and Gabrielle far apart. “He may be a recluse, but he isn’t so isolated that gossip doesn’t reach him. I’m sure he knows by now that you’re writing about the curse. You can see how far he’ll go to keep it from touching him. I doubt he’s pleased you’re stirring that pot.”
She unhooked her seat belt. “I really don’t mind if he’s a little gruff with me. I understand his point of view. But even your father softened enough toward me to take Holly so I could stay with you until things blow over. And we washed Fred together without incident. I’ll be nice to Uncle Edward. Take me with you, please?” She clasped her hands together in mock begging.
“You don’t know Uncle Edward,” he warned her.
She rolled her eyes. “I can handle him.” She’d already opened the car door and scrambled out.
Derek drew a deep breath and joined her.
They reached the front door and he rang the bell.
“Red dust,” she murmured, kneeling down to run her fingers over the dust at the entrance of the house.
“That I can’t explain.”
“I can,” Gabrielle said. “New Orleans tradition holds that if you clean the front steps with red brick dust, it protects the entrance and keeps bad energy and negative people away.”
“Figures.” He rang the doorbell once more.
The door opened no more than half an inch. “Who’s there?”
“It’s your nephew, Derek.” He shot Gabrielle an “I told you so” look.
Edward opened the door the rest of the way. “You aren’t alone.”
Derek shook his head. “No. Do you remember Gabrielle Donovan? I went to high school with her.”
“The one who’s writing about the curse that’s destroyed our family?”
Derek tipped his head toward her.
Gabrielle stepped forward. “Mr. Corwin, I’d love to talk to you if you’d let me in. I have nothing but the utmost respect for what you and your family have been through.”
“Nope. Not talking. Anything I say can and will be used against me.” He slammed the door closed.
“They don’t call him a recluse for nothing.” With a shrug, Derek grabbed her hand and started back down the walk. He hadn’t come to see his uncle, anyway.
“This trip has already revealed a lot,” Gabrielle said.
“Such as?” He couldn’t imagine what she’d discovered.
They walked across her uncle’s driveway and headed to the place next door.
“The jujus, the hermit lifestyle. I’ve been taking mental notes on what they looked like so I can do some research into exactly what evil your uncle hopes to ward off, how he thinks they’ll work, things like that.” Gabrielle’s voice sounded more animated with each word she spoke. “Since I’m planning to write about the effects of a curse on a real family, I can use everything I saw today firsthand.”
“I’d rather you didn’t write about the insanity that runs in my family,” Derek muttered.
She yanked on his hand, pulling him to a stop.
Turning, he met her gaze.
“There is no insanity in your family.” Her eyes flashed with sincerity, which surprised him.
She didn’t think his uncle was nuts?
“Look, I was a psychology major and I understand that people react to events in different ways. Your uncle retreated into himself. That’s not unusual. People also look for ways to protect themselves. Cut him a break. I promise you I will.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I appreciate that.”
“I’m glad. What I write will be factual, not derogatory in any way.”
“I appreciate that, too.” Derek squeezed her hand tighter. “Ready to move on to Harry Winters?”
She nodded. “I hope he’s more talkative than your uncle was.”
“He wouldn’t have to say much in order to do that.”
Knocking on Harry Winters’s door didn’t elicit a response.
Gabrielle let out a sigh of frustration, but Derek knew Winters had to be home. He never went anywhere else.
“Let’s go around back. There’s a pond there. He might be outside,” Derek said, unwilling to give up.
They rounded the back of the house and started down the hill leading to a large pond. Sure enough, a man sat beneath a tree, staring out at the water beyond.
“He can’t be any older than his midforties,” she said, obviously surprised.
She shoved her hands into her shorts pockets and followed Derek down the rocky path.
Derek drew a deep breath. He knew more about Harry Winters and his background than he’d told Gabrielle. But he wanted her to hear the truth from the man himself. Then Derek could help her put things together and figure out how to solve her problems.
“Mr. Winters?”
The man didn’t stop staring out at the water. “Who wants to know?”
Gabrielle stepped forward, but Derek touched her arm to stop her. He wanted to be the one to introduce himself and ease into conversation.
