Part 30 (1/2)

The men scuttled to do his bidding. He pulled out his phone and dialed Reynolds. After giving the acting Commander an update, he tugged on a pair of latex gloves and approached the first bag. Drawing in a deep breath, he steeled himself against what he expected to find.

CHAPTER 30.

Kate paced the tight confines of her motel room for the umpteenth time and tried to concentrate on anything other than what could be happening at No.16 Baxter Road. With a groan, she threw herself down on the bed.

The waiting was doing her head in. The uncertainty, the not knowing. She clenched her teeth and made an effort to calm down. Riley would call her with any news. He'd told her he would.

When he'd kissed her good-bye outside her motel room earlier that morning, he still hadn't known what time the TRG Unit would arrive. It was now after three and her insides had twisted into knots.

It could go one of two ways-either they'd knock down the wall and find nothing, which meant the agonizing search for her mother would continue or, they would find something to indicate their search was over. Neither scenario gave her comfort.

Moving restlessly, she tried to block out the images that formed and s.h.i.+fted and chased one another through her mind. She groaned and pressed her hands against the sides of her head, shaking it in an effort to dislodge them.

Riley would call if there was news. He'd promised. He knew how she'd be feeling-waiting, wondering, not knowing. He hadn't called, so obviously there was no news. Maybe that was a good sign...

The sound of a motor vehicle idling outside her door suddenly registered. Leaping off the bed, she ran to the window and peered out. Riley climbed out of the unmarked squad car.

Her throat went dry. She fumbled with the lock on the door and opened it just as he lifted his hand to knock.

She knew before he said a word. He shook his head, his eyes dark with pain and regret. She backed into the room-hardly aware that he'd followed her-and stumbled into the chair.

With her head in her hands, she absorbed the news he hadn't even voiced.

The search was over.

”I'm sorry, Kate. I'm so sorry.”

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she held them back. ”You found her.”

He nodded, his face grave. ”Yes.”

The stark confirmation was almost too much, but she took a few breaths and reined in her control. ”What happened?”

Riley shook his head. ”We don't know yet. Forensics will be there for a few more hours and she'll then be taken to the morgue. We won't know exactly how she died until we get the autopsy report.”

Forensics. Morgue. Autopsy. Words she'd never dreamed she'd hear in a conversation about her mother. And yet, she'd known that was a possibility. Had even felt, deep down inside, that her mother wouldn't be coming home. That she'd never see her again... Ever.

She thought of the years she'd wasted, hiding ten thousand miles away. The saber-sharp stab of guilt and regret nearly bent her double. Gasping, she let the tears fall.

Riley carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. Not even stopping to pull off his boots, he gathered her in his arms and held her close.

She cried quietly though many of her tears were already spent. He pressed kisses against her hair, offering wordless comfort.

After long moments, she lifted her head and looked at him. ”Can I see her?”

He squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again. Slowly, he shook his head. ”No, sweetheart. You don't want to see her. Best that you remember her the way she was, vibrant, happy, alive.”

Kate bit back another sob and buried her face in his neck. ”I don't know if she was ever happy,” she choked, her voice m.u.f.fled against his s.h.i.+rt.

”She was for a while-at least, according to Daisy,” he murmured, his hand stroking her softly, rhythmically up and down her back. ”Daisy said they had lots of fun together.”

Kate sighed. ”Yes, she did, didn't she? I only hope Mom didn't suffer. I hope it was quick.”

Riley didn't answer. She could only imagine what he'd seen. He was right, she was better off not knowing. It wasn't going to change anything and it would forever destroy the good memories she did have of her mother. ”What happens now?”

Riley sighed. ”Darryl will be charged with her murder. We found a roll of duct tape in the kitchen drawer and trowel and a bucket in the shed out the back. For a man so much admired for his contribution as a police officer, he was a little sloppy.”

”Or inordinately arrogant,” Kate added. ”Perhaps he didn't think anyone would dare enter his property or, if they did, that the items you found would raise suspicion. He wouldn't be the only man in town to have things like that around his house and he certainly wouldn't have counted on me returning. It was highly likely I was the only one who would know the walls were new. I can't imagine he invited too many of his friends upstairs.”

Riley's arms tightened around her. ”That's true. Maggie Fitzgerald may have noticed, but it would have taken someone else to even wonder about the brick wall. She had no cause to venture upstairs.” He smiled grimly. ”The good news is, the existence of the new all strengthens our case against Darryl. The odds that someone else did it are zero to none. It's going to be a little hard to explain to a jury how two brick walls were built in your house without your knowledge.”

Kate shuddered. ”Will I still have to testify?”

”I'm afraid so, unless he pleads guilty. And then, of course, there's Hannaford. Just remember, I'll be there beside you, every step of the way.”

The promise in his eyes warmed her through and helped to dissolve a little of the chill that had plagued her since the discovery of the wall. She lifted her head and kissed him, communicating with her mouth the depth of her love and grat.i.tude.

She pulled away gently and laid her head back on his chest. His hold around her tightened.

”I wish I could spare you the next few days, sweetheart, but you're strong and you're brave and you can get through this even if I can't be with you all the time. I know you can.”

Kate blinked back tears. ”I can't believe she's gone,” she whispered. ”I mean, I know in some part of me I'd accepted that Darryl must have murdered her, but there was another part of me that continued to hope. Now that hope's gone and I'm left with nothing.”

”I wish I could take the pain away,” he whispered. ”I wish that more than anything.”

”Thank you,” she choked. A fat, silent tear slid down her cheek, unheeded. With tender fingers, he wiped it away.

They were silent for a few moments, each lost in their thoughts. Kate thought of her mother and prayed she'd finally found peace-from her debilitating illness and from her unhappy marriage.

”You need to go and see Ronald Westport,” Riley murmured against her hair.

She frowned. ”The lawyer?”

”Yes. The one who drew up your mother's new will. She gave him an envelope with your name on it and left instructions it was to be given to you in the event of her death.”

Kate felt the blood drain from her face. Her voice came out hoa.r.s.e when she spoke again. ”Do you know what it's about?”

He shook his head. ”Westport wouldn't say.”

Kate closed her eyes and tried to come to terms with this latest shock. A second later, she gasped. ”What if it's the videos?”

She felt the tension in his body, even before he cursed beneath his breath. His jaw clenched and then relaxed. It was obvious he was making an effort to remain calm.

”It still infuriates me every time I think about Darryl filming you. If it is a video, we'll deal with it. I promise you. He's not going to have another nanosecond of control or influence over your life.”

He drew her in closer and kissed her forehead. ”Don't worry about that right now, sweetheart. We don't have a clue what's in there. It could be anything.”