Deadly Inheritance: A Romantic Suspense Read online

  Whatever had happened was over for the night. In the morning, he could check out the heating and cooling system and try to figure out exactly what was happening.

  His arm tightened around Nora. She was safe next to him, and despite her fear, her breathing had changed into the deep, regular rhythm of slumber.

  Dawn wasn’t that far away. One way or the other, he was determined to get to the bottom of this and give Nora the chance she deserved to make her dream a reality. He just hoped his decision wouldn’t be a fatal one.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nora woke up slowly, cocooned in warmth, comfort, and a deep sense of security. When she moved, she realized that Gabe’s heavy arm hung over her shoulder, and he was sound asleep, breathing heavily, next to her. Smiling, she lifted her hand to wake him up and then paused.

  This was wrong. Her life was too crazy for a relationship, and his was no better. And then there was her crazy phobia about trusting anyone, much less a handsome Irishman.

  Nonetheless, she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek, breathing in the rich, warm scent of his skin before easing out of bed. He stirred, his dark lashes half-lifting before he let out a long breath and sank into a deeper sleep. She watched him, her gaze lingering on the angle of his stubborn chin, the dark stubble, and rumpled hair. His bruises and scrapes just made him more appealing, and in that moment, she wanted him so much that her heart ached with need.

  Reluctantly, she turned away and crept back to her original room to collect her clothes and get ready for the day. When she glanced at the bed, she remembered his claim that someone had shot at him. Frowning, she carefully checked his pillow, the mattress, and the wooden headboard.

  Sure enough, small holes marked the entry and exit points of the bullet that had passed through his pillow, through the edge of the mattress, and then lodged in the headboard. She ran her fingertips over the splintered wood and picked at the splinters with a fingernail. The bullet had traveled in a downward path; the shooter had been standing next to the bed, aiming down at Gabe’s head as he slept.

  The thought made her muscles stiffen with cold terror. Who could shoot a sleeping man, or anyone, in such a defenseless state? It was inhuman.

  She replaced the pillow and smoothed the covers with shaking hands. The police needed to see this and collect the evidence. She had to report it, regardless of any protests from Gabe.

  She sat on the edge of the bed and frowned, her hands running restlessly over the covers.

  Someone had tried to kill Gabe and had almost succeeded. Twice. The next time, he might not be so fortunate. Was it fair of her to ask him to remain, knowing the danger?

  It was one thing for her to be pig-headed and try to earn her portion of the inheritance, but it was another to expect Gabe to risk his life for a few dollars. She was still considering the issue when she heard the shower start. She smiled and let out a long breath. The rushing sound of water was so normal, so reassuring, and it meant Gabe was alive and well.

  He strode through the connecting door a few minutes later, steam rising from his damp hair and smelling of clean soap. “I was wondering where you went.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you.” She pulled the pillow away from the headboard. “You were right. There’s a bullet in the headboard. Why didn’t I hear anything? Did you?”

  He stared at the bed beyond her shoulder, frowning. “I’m not sure. I was half asleep.” He still looked half asleep with heavy eyelids and a bruise circling one eye. His appearance reawakened the memory of the warm scent of his skin touching her lips, distracting her when he continued, “The shooter must have used a silencer.”

  “Even with a silencer, you should have heard something. And how did he get into the room? Someone has to have keys.” When the thoughtful furrow between his dark brows deepened, she hurried on. “And not just Sarah. Others could have keys, too. We should report this to the police. Now.”

  “Since they’ll probably be here again today, if they aren’t here already, it can wait until then.” He raised a hand to push the damp hair off his forehead and winced. A white line formed around his mouth, reminding her again of his injuries. “And don’t be so sure that Sarah Lennox had nothing to do with this. She and Drew were here the most, and Drew had the most to gain.”

  She involuntarily mirrored his movements and winced with sympathy and guilt before she straightened. “Sarah had nothing to gain. You know that. And you’re awfully casual about that gunshot. Someone has tried to kill you twice.” She eyed him, hands on her hips. She felt responsible for his presence here, but she didn’t want him to leave her alone, either. However, it wasn’t fair to keep him in a dangerous situation. “I think you should leave. For your own safety.”

  “Leave?” The angry glint in his blue eyes was the only sign of emotion in his face. “Just walk away? Abandon you?”

  “Not abandon, just leave until the police can figure this out. You’re hurt, and it’s not right to ask you to remain.” She flung a hand out, gesturing toward the headboard of the bed. “I can’t ask you to stay.”

  He grimaced and shook his head. “Heroic of you, but I think I’ll decline.” His voice hardened. “It’s personal, now. I’m staying.”

  “Well, how heroic of you.”

  “If you’re staying, I’m staying, and that’s it. End of discussion.”

  “I have to stay. You don’t.”

  “You don’t have to stay. You just want the money.”

  “For a good cause,” she threw at him, her heartbeat pounding as she felt her anger rise like the heat from an inferno. How dare he imply she was only after the gold? She could not care less about the money, personally. The only reason she remained was the chance that she could do something with her inheritance, save the lives of animals that would otherwise be put down.

  “What makes you think whoever it is will stop if I leave? He had no idea if I was leaving for good, or just going on an errand when he sabotaged my vehicle.” He paused and held up a hand when she opened her mouth. “I’m going to find out what’s going on.” His stomach rumbled. He gave her a lop-sided grin that made her anger vanish and sent a flutter through her own belly before he added, “Right after breakfast.”

  Food was the last thing she wanted, after suffering last night from the results of swallowing some of the moat water. She almost decided to stay in her room when she caught his gaze again.

  Flustered, Nora nodded and fumbled with the suddenly slippery doorknob. Her cheeks warmed when he reached around her and opened the door.

  When they reached the dining room, the three remaining cousins were already seated and eating, or at least pretending to. Kirsty was poking listlessly at a fluffy pile of scrambled eggs while Candy stared at a dry piece of toast as if she expected it to disappear from her plate if she glanced away. Both women had dark circles under their eyes and an unhealthy, gray tinge to their skin. The heavy eyeliner and black eye-shadow Kirsty wore made her appear even older and more haggard.

  Drew was eating with his normal appetite, but his eyes were sunken in dark hollows. A nervous tic made his left eyelid flutter every few seconds.

  They all looked worn and frightened, but at least they had survived another night.

  Johnny Heck and Frank Leonard were nowhere in sight. She had hoped they would return this morning. Perhaps they’d decided not to return, and she couldn’t really blame them. Autumn Hill was a dangerous place to be.

  When she circled around Drew to one of the unoccupied chairs, he jerked and stared at her, dropping his fork into his plate. The utensil rattled against the china, and he jumped again at the sound.

  Candy, startled by the noise, turned her head to stare at Nora.

  “You!” Drew swallowed and then forced a sickly grin as he picked up his fork. “Surprised to see you this morning.” He glanced around and gestured at the others with his utensil. He chuckled. “Thought you might have abandoned us.”

  “We all thought you’d be gone.” Cand
y laughed, the sound low and unpleasant. “You certainly have a good reason to go. After your bath in the moat, I’d have thought you’d be in the hospital with dysentery by now.”

  “No such luck,” Nora said. “Disappointed?”

  “Not at all.” Drew ate a bit of egg with his usual self-satisfied air, although the bunched muscles in his shoulders revealed his tension. From the way his left arm tightened, Nora guessed that he was gripping his napkin beneath the table as he struggled to appear nonchalant.

  Strange. Maybe he had been the one who shot at her bed last night. That would explain his surprise at seeing her this morning. Although Candy seemed almost as shocked to see her.

  Nora glanced at Gabe. His gaze bounced from Drew, to Candy, and back to Nora. His alert expression told her that he had also noticed Drew’s reaction to her appearance this morning.

  Gabe gave an infinitesimal shake of his head before sitting down. “Police here yet?” He filled his plate with eggs, bacon, and a biscuit as if unaware of the tension in the room. He split the biscuit open and ladled a generous portion of sausage gravy over it.

  Knife in one hand and fork in the other, Drew paused and flicked an annoyed glance at Gabe. “They’re in the study. Why?”

  “No reason.” Gabe cut a piece from his biscuit, mopped up some gravy, and ate it.

  Drew grunted and turned his attention back to his scrambled eggs. His brows wrinkled with concentration as he ate another fluffy bit of egg.

  The sage-scented aroma from Gabe’s plate made Nora’s mouth water. Maybe her stomach had finally settled. She grabbed the last biscuit and smothered it with the gravy rich with chunks of sausage, pepper, and creamy milk. Evidently, Sarah was feeling better and willing to cook less plain fare.

  “What are your plans for the day?” Nora asked between creamy, savory bites. Her stomach rumbled once and then quieted.

  Silence that lasted several seconds greeted her question. Finally, Kirsty dropped her silverware onto her plate and pushed it away. “Who are you asking?”

  “Anyone. Do you have any plans?”

  “I plan to stay alive. That’s all.” Kirsty glared at her as if she suspected that Nora was going to shoot everyone while they breakfasted.

  “What about you?” Candy flung back as she gingerly picked up the toast by the corner, examined it, and then took a very small bite.

  “I don’t know. Explore. Read, maybe.” Nora looked at Gabe, for some reason unwilling to reveal what had occurred last night or her plans to talk to the police.

  Gabe smiled blandly and picked up a forkful of scrambled eggs.

  Big help.

  “Hoping to find the gold?” Drew drawled sarcastically.

  Nora’s head jerked up. “Gold?”

  “You’ve heard that rumor, haven’t you?” Drew chuckled.

  “What gold?” Nora widened her eyes, playing dumb.

  “Our uncle’s gold. His fortune,” Drew explained patiently.

  “He told you his fortune is in gold?”

  “No,” Drew’s brow furrowed again. “He wouldn’t tell any of us anything. But I heard it somewhere. Can’t remember where, though. I think everyone here heard the same rumor?” He studied Candy.

  Candy and Kirsty both grimaced and flicked frowning glances at him as if angry that he’d mentioned the treasure.

  He smiled at them and shrugged. “There’s gold here. Somewhere.”

  “Then someone needs to find it. We won’t have much of an inheritance to split up if we don’t,” Nora replied, pleased to sound so calm.

  “Well, good luck. I’ve been over every inch of this house. I haven’t even found any cobwebs.” Drew stabbed at the remaining piece of egg with his fork. “I’m beginning to think our lovely Miss Sarah has fooled all of us and has already found it and spirited it away to some fat little bank account in Switzerland.”

  At Drew’s words, Nora glanced at Gabe. When she saw a thoughtful expression grow on his face, she felt her temper ignite. “You don’t believe that.” Her voice was hard with challenge. “If she had, why would she hang around here? She’d have been long gone.”

  Drew smiled with condescending amusement. “She was here when our dear uncle died.”

  “Several of you were here,” Nora said.

  “And she’s been here all along. How could he hide anything here and keep it a secret? Think about it. It’s the only possible answer,” Drew pointed out.

  To her dismay, Kirsty and Candy talked over each other in rapid agreement. Even Gabe looked like he concurred, although he remained silent.

  How could he agree?

  Nora felt sorry for Sarah. The housekeeper had had a difficult life taking care of Archie James, and in her gut, Nora knew Sarah hadn’t killed Archie or stolen his gold. Although frankly, the housekeeper deserved some of it for her lifetime of drudgery.

  Right then, Nora resolved to give a portion of whatever she inherited to Sarah. The housekeeper had earned it.

  Shaking her head, Nora finished her breakfast as rapidly as possible and excused herself, unsurprised when Gabe followed her out.

  “I hate to agree with anything Drew says, but he’s right, you know.” Gabe caught Nora’s arm.

  She shook him off. “He’s wrong. And you are, too, if you believe him. Sarah is innocent, I’m sure of it.”

  “Why? She had the means and the motive.”

  “Because for one thing, why would she still be here if she took all the money?”

  “To avert suspicion?”

  “That’s ridiculous. She could be long gone and happy somewhere. I wish you’d stop picking on her.”

  Gabe grinned and held up his hands. “Truce. Just promise me you won’t hang around her. Particularly if it’s just the two of you. You may trust her, but I don’t.”

  “Well, I do.” When his grip on her arm tightened, she eyed him, challenge hardening her face. “If she were guilty, she’d be long gone.”

  “Maybe she hasn’t been able to shift all the gold yet.” He let her go and shrugged. “Who knows?”

  “I know, and you’re full of it.”

  Just as she finished speaking, Detective Gerhardt opened the study door and caught sight of them standing in the hallway. “What’s going on?”

  “I’d like to speak to you,” Gabe said as he strode past Nora with his hand outstretched.

  The two men shook hands and the detective caught Nora’s gaze over Gabe’s shoulder and nodded to her. “Sure.” He released Gabe’s hand and gestured for them to enter the study. “What can I help you with?”

  “Someone—some thing—tried to shoot Gabe last night,” Nora said before Gabe could speak.

  The detective’s long, thin brows rose. “Is that so? You know we posted a man outside. He didn’t hear a thing.” He studied Gabe, his pale eyes glinting with humor. “Hurt?”

  “No,” Gabe replied curtly. “I’m sure he used a silencer. That’s why your man didn’t hear the shot.”

  “Maybe. Guess someone doesn’t much care for you, Mr. O’Brien. First your car and now this. Have you thought about going home? Might be safer,” Detective Gerhardt suggested.

  “I told him the same thing,” Nora agreed.

  They both stared at Gabe.

  “I’m not leaving until this whole thing is settled. Did you know about the gold?” Gabe asked, abruptly changing the subject.

  “Gold? You mean that theory of Franklin Leonard’s?” The amusement in the detective’s eyes deepened. He looked like he could hardly keep from laughing.

  “Yes. Don’t you believe it exists?” Nora asked.

  “Can’t say. But you have to ask yourself, if there was a pile of gold here, where is it? My team has been all over this house. Haven’t found a thing, not even a silver dime. So you gotta wonder about that rumor.” Detective Gerhardt tilted his head to the side and then straightened, like a cat examining some strange, new object. “Unless the housekeeper already found it and moved it.”

  “What is it with you
people? Why does everyone keep blaming Sarah?” Nora tried to keep her voice level, but it sounded sharp and shrill in her ears.

  They were going to arrest Sarah because it was the easy solution, and the real killer would get away with everything. Couldn’t they see that the woman had enough problems? She thrust her icy fingers into the pockets of her jeans and swallowed, striving to remain calm. “It could just as easily be Drew.” She winced as she threw her cousin’s name at the detective. “He acted weirdly at breakfast. And what about Candy? What about them?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it does seem likely that Ms. Lennox is involved.” Gerhardt remained detached, apparently unimpressed by her words.

  “Do you have any proof? Any evidence?” Nora asked.

  “Got a whole box full. Can’t discuss the case any further.” He paused to let that sink in before he asked, “Is that all you wanted?”

  “No,” Gabe said, taking a step forward to gently insert himself between Nora and the detective. “Like we said, we had another incident last night. Someone shot at me.”

  The detective’s brows flew up his forehead again, but he remained silent, waiting for Gabe to continue.

  “I was in bed, asleep,” Gabe said. “A sound woke me up, and then I heard something hit the pillow near my head.”

  “It wasn’t a dream. There’s a bullet lodged in the headboard,” Nora added. “If you’d care to collect a little more evidence.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Detective Gerhard didn’t bother to point out again that his man outside hadn’t heard anything. He gestured to the door, waiting for them to show him the way to the bedroom. “Did you have the door locked?”

  “Yes,” Gabe said.

  “There was mist—cold.” Nora rubbed her arms, remembering the deathly chill. “You can believe me or not, but it was a repeat of what happened the night Mike died.”

  Gerhardt chuckled as they climbed the stairs. “A ghost with a gun?”

  “I don’t care what you think. I’m just telling you what happened,” Nora said.