Good morning, she said as she strolled in, bringing a gust of wind with her. Where can I find Mr. Klein?
Hes busy right now, Bert replied, not meeting her gaze.
Was she imagining things, or was the man just a little hostile toward her today? I told him I might drop by around one, she said, checking her watch. It was five minutes after. But I dont mind waiting a bit if hes busy.
She would wait as long as she had to, since she had no other leads to follow. She could have flown back to New York today, but shed already paid for the extra night at the Periwinkle.
Besides, if she were honest with herself, she wanted to see Russ again.
Bert sighed impatiently. Hes in back gettin some supplies ready for a camping party. You can go through the storeroom and out the back door, if you want. But I think you should know-he makes a terrible boyfriend.
Excuse me?
Just a word to the wise. Ive seen the city girls come and Ive seen em go. He might look like a good catch, but unless you like fishing and camping, youre not likely to see much of him. And if you have any notions about dragging him to the city and putting him in a suit, you might as well give up right now.
Sydney resisted the urge to laugh, because Bert was obviously sincere. He was trying to protect his friend from what he saw as a predatory female, an evil city woman.
My dealings with Russ this afternoon are strictly business, she said.
Thats not what I hear.
Oh, dear. She hadnt meant to become the center of gossip. Another reason she liked the big city. No one cared whom she dated; no one paid attention to what time she came home or even if she came home. Not unless she counted her father, whod developed an unnatural dependence on her lately. Hed already called her twice this morning with problems at the office he wanted her to solve. Hed made it clear he wanted her home-yesterday.
Bert returned to his newspaper, but Sydney could tell he was still watching her suspiciously. She made her way across the wood floor, around the counter and into the storage area, feeling Berts gaze burn between her shoulder blades the whole way.
The large storeroom was lined with all manner of products, from canned peas to laundry detergent to cat food. Stacks of camping gear-tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, cooking utensils-covered the floor. Big canoes hung from hooks in the ceiling. A thick steel door to the outside was unlatched and only slightly open.
Sydney peered through the crack, catching sight of Russ before he saw her and pausing a moment to savor the sight. She had to admit, he was one of the most attractive men shed ever come across. His image had remained firmly implanted in her mind long after hed dropped her off last night-hair with streaks of burnished brass and eyes the same color as a clear winter sky. He again wore faded jeans and much-laundered flannel shirt that revealed firm muscles every place she looked.
That rugged, outdoorsman look fit him as gracefully as the tailored-suit look fit some other men she knew.
As he leaned over to drop an armload of gear onto a blue tarp, his shirt stretched invitingly across wide, powerful shoulders. Sydney could easily guess what that soft flannel would feel like, how the firm body beneath the fabric would react to her touch.
Shed been thinking about it-had thought of little else, really, even when shed been tracking down long-shot leads. Shed pretty much decided theyd done the right thing last night. One or two nights with this man would never be enough, yet anything more permanent was out of the question for her right now with her home in New York and her father depending on her. She couldnt possibly maintain a relationship with a man who lived half a country away from her.
Russ turned to pick up a cooler and caught sight of Sydney. Immediately his chiseled features rearranged themselves into a smile. As he came closer, she caught a hint of his intriguingly masculine scent.
Any luck with the other Russells? he asked.
Nothing but dead ends. Your cabin full of papers and photos is sounding better and better. Have I come at a bad time?
I have to get all the supplies ready for a camping party thats set to show up any minute.
Need some help? she asked. I can tote and lift.
He gave her a skeptical look. I can handle it, if you dont mind waiting a few minutes.
Please, go ahead. I noticed a historical museum on the next block. That looks interesting. The curators at small museums are often a wealth of information. Maybe Ill just run over there-
No. He said it, so emphatically she jumped. I mean, the guy who takes care of the museum will talk your ear off about everything you dont want to know about and its hard to get away from him. If youll just wait a few minutes, Ill be done here and I can devote my full attention to you.
Well, okay. But she still thought the museum sounded interesting. And talkative people were lifeblood for a private investigator like herself. Shed never had any problems with people who talked too much, only with people, like Russ, who kept their mouths shut. Fortunately, there were a lot more talkers in the world than silent types.
She found a perch on the edge of a concrete planter and watched him work.
He disappeared into the storeroom and returned with a tent, a lantern and some other items Sydney didnt recognize.
After his third trip, a battered pickup truck bearing four boisterous college kids whipped into the parking lot.
Sydney waited patiently while Russ dealt with them, answering yet another call from her father, who couldnt resist checking up on her every few hours. Ever since her mothers death, her father relied on daily pep talks from Sydney to keep him going.
I wish youd tell me what youre up to down there, he huffed.
I told you, Im following a lead. It could mean a good commission. Ill tell you more about it when I know more. Lowell would freak out if he knew she had a lead on the Oberlin case. It might be just the thing to blast him out of his depression, but her likely failure might make things worse. Aunt Carol is doing well.
Theres something youre not telling me, Lowell Baines concluded.
Darn it, even in his depressed state, his instincts were sharp. It was almost impossible to fool him. I have to go, Dad. Ill be home soon. Love you.
But, Sydney-
She disconnected. Otherwise he would keep her on the phone forever, pestering her.
Russ was piling gear into the bed of the pickup and answering questions about terrain and the weather forecast, which was apparently of some concern. Although the sun was shining now, rain was due to move into the area that evening and Russ gave careful instructions for preventing the tents from washing away.
During one of his trips between the storeroom and truck, a sleeping bag toppled from his arms. She retrieved it for him and carried it to the pickup while the college boys eyed her breasts. Russ shot them a look that ended the ogling.
His display of primitive protectiveness made Sydneys blood sing through her veins. She was looking forward to getting his full attention.
Chapter Four
Russ hurried to get the college kids on their way. So far hed lucked out. The Milhaus sisters hadnt revealed anything pertinent. But he had trouble on another front. His mother had heard about his date with Sydney last night, not to mention that several people had seen them yesterday around the square.
If shes your new girlfriend, I want to meet her! Winnie had insisted when shed called that morning. He probably should have seen this one coming.
Shes not a girlfriend, Russ had assured his mom. She stopped by the store and we struck up a conversation. Its just a casual thing and shes leaving in a day or two. Ill probably never see her again. You wouldnt like her, anyway. Which was blatantly untrue. His mother liked everybody. Shed always gotten on well with Russs girlfriends.
But in this case, the ends justified the means. Winnie had wasted too much of her life focused on money, had practically ruined her life in the pursuit of it. The one time shed had money of her own, after Sammy paid her off to disappear, shed blown it all on every unhealthy pursuit imaginable.
She was happy now, doing a job she loved and living close to people who cared about her. But that would change, he knew, if she saw a chance to get her hands on more of Sammys cash. The mere whisper of millions of dollars would send her into a tailspin he didnt care to witness or deal with.
He glanced at Sydney; she was sitting on the edge of a planter with her face to the sun, enjoying the gorgeous afternoon. What had started out as a simple decision on his part to refuse an inheritance had turned into a big pile of deceit, and he didnt like that, or himself for that matter, one bit.
Still, he only had to keep the two women apart for another day or so and his problems would be over.
He approached Sydney, who had her eyes closed. Hello?
She jumped. Oh. Sorry. I was about to doze off. Im afraid I didnt sleep too well last night.
He hadnt, either. He kept thinking about Sydney in his arms, how shed felt, how shed smelled, and hed lain awake for hours. He wondered if her sleeplessness had a similar source and couldnt help hoping so. Was there a problem?
It was too quiet, she admitted. Im used to traffic noises at night and all I could hear were my own ears ringing from the loud music at the club.
So much for his fantasy that shed been desperate for his touch.
You actually like the city noise? I guess you can get used to anything. He remembered what it was like to sleep in their Vegas apartment. Though he and his mother had lived in a pricey complex, the walls were paper thin. All night long, hed hear people coming and going, cars and sirens, drunk pedestrians outside and his mothers partying friends inside. He couldnt imagine how anyone found that preferable to peace and quiet.
He looked down at Sydneys feet. Well have to do something about your shoes.
Why? She looked down at her black, pointy-toed heels. I wont actually have to hike into the woods, will I? I have a policy never to walk on dirt. She laughed, but Russ didnt join her. They would, in fact, have to hike to get to the cabin, but he didnt want to scare her off.