Carly Phillips - Lucky Break

No sooner had she walked into the house and placed her bags on the floor than the doorbell rang. She shrugged off her jacket, placing it on the coat stand, then looked through the peephole before opening the door to one of the local cops she’d met before.

“Ms. Perkins, may I come in?” the officer asked.

A chill rushed through Lauren as she nodded and stepped back to let him inside.

“What’s wrong? Did you find my sister?” she asked, visions of a shoot-out running through her mind.

“What’s going on?” Jason asked, striding up to her side.

He acknowledged the cop with a nod of his head.

“He was just about to tell me.” Lauren swallowed hard, unable to keep the tremor from her voice.

Jason placed his hand on her shoulder and she appreciated the support.

The officer took off his hat and tucked the cap beneath his arm. “No, ma’am. We haven’t located your sister but we did have a report of a sighting.”

Lauren’s heart pounded hard in her chest.

“Where?” Jason asked.

“There was a convenience store robbery across state lines in Rhode Island. The suspects fit the description of your sister and her accomplice. Witnesses claim they took off in a southwesterly direction. Away from here.”

“Robbery?” Lauren could barely speak through her dry mouth.

The officer nodded. “I’m sorry to have to add to your burdens, but that’s the most recent update.”

“We appreciate it,” Jason said. “Is the search focused in Rhode Island now?”

“It’s as good a lead as we’ve got, so the Rhode Island authorities are following up. Of course we’ll still be vigilant here. This is her home, and if she panics and needs help, she might come to you.” He studied Lauren intently, as if sizing her up.

“What?” she asked, uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

“If you hear from her, you will let us know?”

“Of course! And I don’t appreciate you thinking otherwise.”

Jason’s grip on her shoulder tightened. “He’s just doing his job.”

She nodded. Antagonizing the police wasn’t a smart strategy.

“If there’s anything else you can tell us that you think might help find her, call. I’ll let myself out. Lock the door behind me.” He tipped his head and started for the door.

Then he was gone.

“Robbery?” Lauren asked.

“You can’t even pretend to know what’s in her mind anymore,” he said.

She nodded. “You’re right about that. If she’s in Rhode Island and heading away from here, do you think she’s given up on whatever it is she wants from this house?”

Jason spread his hands in front of him, apparently as confused as Lauren was. “Like I said…”

“I can’t begin to guess at what’s going on in her mind.” She sighed then met Jason’s gaze. “Hey. Why didn’t you tell the police there might be something here she’d come back for?” Lauren bit the inside of her cheek.

It hadn’t been easy for her to remain silent. She’d been surprised Jason had kept quiet, too.

He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, staring at her. “I did it for you. We have no solid proof she wants anything here, just a series of coincidences like you said. I figured I’d give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Even if you are certain she’s behind the vandalism, the tampering and the arson?”

He nodded, not denying his belief. “Even then. She escaped. She’ll be caught eventually and the truth will come out.” His expression filled with compassion and, despite the emotional distance between them, something that looked suspiciously like love.

Lauren’s heart beat more rapidly in her chest, her emotions a rioting mix she didn’t know how to deal with. And as long as he kept his feelings inside, as long as he kept sending out mixed signals instead of overt ones, she didn’t have to.

She ran her tongue over suddenly dry lips. “I don’t know what to say except thank you.”

She might not have anticipated her sister would fake mental illness, but she had to believe that whatever Beth’s motives had been, she was far away from here by now.

“THEY HAVE TO LEAVE the house sooner or later,” Brody said in the whiny voice Beth had come to hate. She cringed every time he opened his mouth.

Still, she’d needed him and he’d come through. She’d managed to contact him with the nurse’s cell phone and leave a message. He’d gotten into the prison by telling them he’d left his tools behind, and a little fire had distracted people, enabling him to sneak her out amid the chaos. Minimum security and paying close attention to who was stationed where had helped.

But now that she was out, she didn’t need Brody anymore. Only he didn’t take a hint. Why would he when he knew about the diamonds, Beth thought, frustrated.

“Beth? Can’t you figure something out?” he asked.

“We need to have patience.” She glanced around the hiding place she’d chosen, a detached garage in a neighbor’s house next to her old home. It wasn’t comfortable but it was safe.

These neighbors spent winters in Florida, and like most people in town, they didn’t use burglar alarms. In this old garage, they’d had no reason. Even better, this particular neighbor had had a property line dispute with her grandmother. They’d lost in court, naturally. It had been so easy for her grandmother as mayor to switch old land surveys on file. Beth figured it was smart of her to pick a house where there was no love lost between the owners and the Perkinses. Less chance of the police thinking Beth would be hiding out there.

“I’m hungry,” Brody said.

Another whine.

Beth gritted her teeth. “Then you should have chosen a convenience store with more cash in the register because we need to ration what little we have.”

After leaving the prison, they’d ditched the car in a busy parking lot and walked until they found an unlocked car Brody could hot-wire. Another thing he’d been good for besides sex.

There wasn’t much else. He’d forgotten to bring cash for their road trip, leaving them no choice but to knock over a convenience store. It had been her idea to drive to Rhode Island for the job, keeping far from home. And in case anyone watched them leave afterward, she made sure Brody drove in the opposite direction from home. They’d waited a day in a motel, where she’d cut and dyed her hair, after which they’d doubled back on side roads to end up here.

“Can’t we go in when they’re asleep to get the diary?” Brody asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“No! I’m not risking having to hurt my sister.” Considering she had no idea where Lauren had put the damned thing, they’d need time to search.

They’d just have to wait until both Lauren and her Corwin boyfriend decided to leave the house together.

LAUREN CLOSETED HERSELF in the bedroom to dress for Gabrielle’s book signing. All the workmen were gone for the day except for J.R., the plumber, and she didn’t want company while she was changing.

Since the news that Brody Pittman was her sister’s accomplice, J.R. had insisted on coming by the house to check the boiler work and replace some of the pipes. He said he’d also check everything out as all Pittman’s work was now suspect. Lauren appreciated J.R.’s diligence and she hoped Brody Pittman hadn’t cost her extra money she didn’t have to spend on this house.

To work on the boiler, he’d had to turn off the heat and it hadn’t taken long for the cold weather outside to seep inside and turn the house into a virtual freezer. Earlier in the day, she’d made a fire in the bedroom fireplace, a nice feature in this old New England home. Lauren had decided to toss Clara’s log in for good measure and she wondered if any of the positive energy had taken hold. She could use some, if such a thing was possible. Time would tell. A small flame still crackled and burned, but clearly it was almost out.

She freshened her makeup and dressed in tapered black slacks, a bright multicolored silk blouse belted at the waist and, of course, her favorite red fringed boots. One last look in the mirror, a quick fix of her bangs, and she was ready to go.

She found Jason in the kitchen talking with J.R. and she took a moment to savor the sight of him. He wore a cream-colored sweater, black denim jeans and loafers, and looked so sexy she wished things between them were back the way they had been a few short weeks ago. She hoped he’d lower his defenses for the night at least, so they could enjoy the signing.

And each other.

Besides, she didn’t need his cousins noticing tension and trying to play matchmaker when there was clearly nothing left to bring them together.

A knot the size of a walnut wedged in Lauren’s stomach. Ridiculous, since she hadn’t wanted any ties to this town when she left for good.

She didn’t miss the irony in her life. She’d driven in on a high in her beloved red convertible. She’d be leaving in a rental car, feeling depressed and blue.

J.R. GAVE JASON a rundown of what he’d found during his inspection of the plumbing. The good news was that the work Brody Pittman did in the house was sound. It also appeared that the man had lied about some of the other items that needed replacement and repair-obviously in a bid to buy himself more time in the house. More positive news for Lauren’s checkbook.

“Hi,” she said, announcing her presence.

“Hey.” Jason glanced up and the breath was sucked out of his lungs.

She’d chosen a soft, flowing blouse with a deep vee, showing more than a generous hint of cleavage while covering everywhere else. Completely appropriate yet seductively sexy, he thought. And her long hair fell over her shoulders, thick and shiny, begging for him to run his hands through it. Better yet, he wanted to feel those silky strands over his naked body. Jason swallowed a groan.