Garden of Secrets (10 page)

“Babe, we’re in the middle of a game!” Colin yelled back.

“Andrew can play for you.”

Colin looked as if he wanted to say no, but he’d made a habit of giving Kara whatever she wanted.

“Thank you,” Andrew said.

“Don’t hurt Charlotte. Or you’ll have me to contend with.”

Colin came over and tossed Andrew the ball. “You’re in. Don’t lose my lead.”

The game got more intense with Andrew replacing Colin, Charlotte thought. Each play seemed to become more competitive. Andrew had been a star baseball player when he was young, and he was good at football, too. He threw the ball far better than Colin did, and their team quickly racked up more points. Joe was no slouch, either. He was agile and fast and played with the same drive he brought to everything else.

Charlotte was trying to stay out of the action as much as possible, always relieved when the ball went somewhere else. Finally, someone called a halt as the sun sank lower in the sky, and they all headed toward the sidelines.

“I wish I’d gotten here earlier,” Andrew said, falling into step next to her. “I was just getting into it. I can’t remember the last time I threw a football around—probably high school.”

“Well, it came right back to you. I’m not surprised. You were a good athlete.”

“At one time, baseball was what I lived for. I never imagined there would be a day when I couldn’t do it anymore. When my dream would die a brutal death.”

She stopped abruptly, surprised by his words. “What are you talking about?”

“I tore up my knee in junior year of college,” he explained. “I had to have surgery. I was out that year and wasn’t in good enough shape the next year to play. I thought you knew that.”

“No one ever mentioned that you got hurt. I thought you just quit after you finished school.”

“No. I wanted to go pro, and I had some interest. A few weeks before I got hurt, a couple of scouts talked to me. I was going to be drafted, but that was put on hold with the injury. Then it became an impossibility.”

The pain in his voice matched the shadows in his eyes. Andrew had always been the golden boy, the one for whom things came easily and quickly. He’d never seemed to struggle for anything; he was just naturally good. But to have his dreams ripped away from him—that must have been tough.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I had no idea. Your father must have been disappointed, too. He spent so much time with you at the batting cage.”

“My father was furious.”

“Why? It wasn’t your fault you got hurt.”

“He thought it was a result of poor conditioning. I was partying too hard, not paying enough attention to my training. He didn’t speak to me for almost three years.”

“I can’t believe that,” she said in amazement.

“You weren’t the only one who had a parent with high expectations. He wasn’t completely wrong, either. I
was
partying a lot. Eventually, we made peace with it. Actually, we just didn’t talk about it anymore. And then he died, so that was that.”

She slid her arm around his waist. “Well, you may have lost one dream, but you found another. You’re a good minister, Andrew.”

“That’s nice to hear from you.”

“I’m sure you hear it from a lot of people.”

“But you’re different, because you know me better than most.”

Did she? She hadn’t known about his injury, which shocked her a little; it made her realize that maybe the years in between mattered more than she’d thought.

“Charlotte, I want to tell you something before you hear it from someone else,” Andrew said.

“What’s that?” she asked warily.

“Pamela came by the church a few hours ago. We had a short discussion about Theresa. It wasn’t important, but I’m telling you because I wouldn’t want you to think I was keeping it from you.”

“I saw her earlier, too, at the hospital.”

“She told me. I meant what I said earlier today,
Charlotte. I want to go forward, not backward. Don’t let Pamela’s presence drag us into the past, into problems we’ve rehashed a dozen times.”

“Hey, you two, are you coming back to the house?” Kara interrupted, coming over to join them.

Charlotte started, realizing that most of the crowd had dispersed. Colin was pushing the baby stroller back and forth on the sidewalk while talking to Joe. “Sure, I’ll come back for a little while.”

“What about you, Andrew?”

He glanced down at his watch. “I wish I could, but I have some business to take care of. I’ll talk to you later, Charlotte.” He kissed her on the cheek, then walked across the grass, saying good-bye to the others before heading to his car.

“You and Andrew were chatting it up. Did you have fun today?” Kara asked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

“What’s making you so happy?” Charlotte asked suspiciously as they walked across the grass.

“Watching you dodge two men.”

“I was playing football. I had to dodge a lot of men.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it. Andrew practically bribed me to get into the game.”

“Is that why you made Colin come out?”

“Are you going to thank me?”

“It was your choice,” Charlotte said. “Nothing to do with me.”

Kara made a face at her. “It had everything to do
with you. So what’s the deal? Are you into Andrew? Or is Joe the one giving you goose bumps?”

“Shh,” she said warningly. “He’ll hear you.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“I like them both.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. Andrew is a blond god, and Joe is a sexy hunk of a man. Dating them both could be a lot of fun. Maybe I
did
get married too young,” Kara said with a wistful sigh. “I missed all this excitement.”

“It’s not always exciting,” Charlotte said dryly. “If you’d seen some of the losers I’ve dated, you wouldn’t be admiring my single status. I’ve made a lot of mistakes when it comes to men.”

“It’s not the mistakes that matter; it’s how you recover from them. But neither Andrew nor Joe is a loser. It looks like a win-win situation to me.”

“Stop trying to marry me off. I have a lot of other things in my life to figure out. In fact, I think I’ll take you up on that offer to show me some real estate.”

“Anytime.”

As they joined the men, Joe’s cell phone rang.

After listening for a moment, he said, “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” He gave them a look of apology. “I have to take off. Thanks for the invite.”

“I’ll catch up to you, Kara,” Charlotte said, wanting a moment to speak to Joe.

“Was that call about Theresa?” she asked as the others moved down the sidewalk. “Has something new developed?”

“That was Pamela. I’m going to meet with her to learn more about her sister.”

“Why not ask the mayor? He’s married to Theresa.”

“The mayor has tunnel vision. I need another perspective.”

“And you think Pamela will give it to you?”

“It’s just routine, Charlotte.”

“Then why isn’t Jason handling it?”

“Because I am. It’s not personal. Nor is it anything for you to be concerned about. It’s just a simple conversation.”

“Nothing is simple where Pamela is concerned. She doesn’t like me, and she would probably love to see me go down for attacking her sister, even though it’s not true. She’s going to try to railroad me.”

“Do you think I’d let that happen?”

“Men lose their minds when they’re near Pamela’s triple Ds.”

A smile played around his lips as his gaze met hers. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m pissed. There’s a difference,” she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“You’re pissed because you’re jealous.”

She wanted to smack the knowing smile off his face, but there was too much truth to his statement. “Just remember that whenever Pamela is around, there’s trouble.”

“I hate to break it to you, Charlotte, but you seem to be a magnet for trouble yourself.” He leaned in close. “But I’ve always liked trouble, especially
when it comes in such a pretty package.” He gave her a tender kiss, then stepped back. “Don’t worry about Pamela. She’s not going to put anything over on me, and the last thing I would ever let her do is hurt you.”

Joe entered the Java Hut fifteen minutes later. Pamela was seated at a corner table, sipping coffee as she perused the local paper. A young man on his computer was the only other patron in the café. Joe sat down across from Pamela.

She gave him a smile. “Can I buy you a coffee, Chief?”

“I’m good. Thanks.”

“Did I pull you away from something?” Her gaze ran down his body. “You don’t look like you’re on duty.”

“I’m not. I just finished up a football game. How’s your sister doing?”

“Confused and in pain. The doctor says that’s normal. They’re keeping her heavily sedated to give her brain a chance to rest. They’re not sure she’ll remember the attack. I’m very concerned that we’re not going to find out who did this to her.”

“We’re in the early stages of the investigation. It’s too soon to be discouraged.”

“Aren’t the early stages the most critical? Doesn’t the trail grow colder with each passing minute?”

“My officers are working very hard on this case, Ms. Baines.”

“It’s Miss,” she said with a flirtatious smile. “What about you, Chief? Are you a single man? Or a married man who doesn’t wear a ring?”

He’d worn a ring until a few months ago, but it was amazing how quickly he’d stopped feeling its absence. “I’m divorced,” he said shortly.

“Someone let you go? That’s surprising.”

He didn’t like the gleam in her eyes. “Let’s talk about you, Miss Baines. What kind of relationship do you have with your sister?”

“The usual kind,” she said with an offhand wave.

“Yet you can’t recall the last time you saw her?”

“A few months ago. I thought I was going to be the one asking the questions.”

He ignored that. “Whoever attacked your sister knew how to get in and out of that house very quickly. We got a list of friends and workers who were involved in the renovation from the mayor, but sometimes sisters know more than husbands.”

“I doubt my sister’s list of friends is all that long. She loves to brag about her jewelry, her house, her money, and her clothes. And since she moved into that mansion, her head has gotten even bigger.”

“It doesn’t sound like you’re a big fan of Theresa’s.”

“I know her better than anyone. I think she shot off her mouth a little too much, opened up her house to a lot of people she doesn’t even like just so she could impress them, and she didn’t hire any security. I’m sorry she got hurt, that she lost her wedding ring, which I know is the most important piece
of jewelry she owns. But I can’t help thinking that someone wanted to get back at her for something.” She paused. “Maybe Charlotte.”

“Why would Charlotte want to hurt your sister?”

“To get back at me for stealing Andrew.”

“That’s a stretch. As far as I can tell, Charlotte had no problem with Theresa.”

“Well, the fact that Charlotte was discovered upstairs just after Theresa was attacked speaks for itself. I hope you won’t let your friendship get in the way of your job, Chief. Or is there more between you and Charlotte than friendship?”

“I don’t let anything get in the way of my job. Where do you live now?”

She stiffened. “I have a place in Los Angeles.”

“How long are you planning to stay in Angel’s Bay?”

“As long as my sister needs me.”

“Were you invited to the New Year’s Eve party?”

Her gaze turned cool. “No, I wasn’t. But that’s not surprising; I don’t live here.”

“So geography was the only reason you didn’t get an invitation?” he queried.

“You’ll have to ask Theresa or Robert.”

“I will.”

“Fine. Now let’s talk about you,” she said with an interested smile. “When did you leave your wife?”

“Do you flirt with every man you meet?”

“Only the ones I might want.”

“You should stick with Andrew.”

“Well, I’ve never done it with a minister. Not
that it’s easy to think of Andrew in those terms. When I knew him, he was about as far from a saint as you could get.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“I could be persuaded. How badly do you want the information?”

Not badly enough to take her up on the invitation in her eyes. He got to his feet. “Thanks for the chat.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing, Chief.”

“I have a pretty good idea,” he said dryly.

Pamela might have played the boys in high school, but he wasn’t seventeen, and more important, he wasn’t a fool.

After leaving Kara’s, Charlotte drove past Joe’s house, debating whether she should stop. It was past seven, so it would be smarter to go home, touch base with her mother and Annie, and get ready for work tomorrow, but she was dying to know how Joe’s conversation with Pamela had gone. She didn’t want him to think she was stalking him, but in the end, her curiosity won out. She parked in front of his house and hurried up to the front door.

Rufus started barking, and she could hear voices inside. Was Pamela there? Her stomach turned over at that thought. She was just about to bail when the door opened. As Isabella and a barking Rufus greeted her, she smiled with relief.

“Charlotte. You’re just in time.”

“For what?” she asked as Rufus jumped up to smother her in wet kisses.

“Rufus, down,” Joe said firmly, grabbing hold of the dog’s collar and pulling him away from her. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.”

Joe had changed into worn jeans, his green T-shirt clung to his broad shoulders, and his dark hair was damp as if he’d just gotten out of the shower.

“Come on in,” Isabella said. “We’re just about to start the movies.”

Charlotte stepped inside and nodded to Nick Hartley, who was walking down the hallway with a bowl of popcorn. “I don’t want to interrupt,” she said.

“You’re not interrupting at all. Is she, Joe?” Isabella gave her brother a pointed look.

Joe didn’t look quite as excited about her staying as his sister did. “Did you need to talk to me?”

“I did,” she began, but Isabella cut her off.