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CHAPTER ELEVEN

T he memorial service was in the church annex. Photographs of Faye—from her birth all the way to adulthood—were scattered around the room. People encircled them, their voices lifting and falling like music. Gavin’s gaze swept the room, noting the crowd in attendance.Faye had been loved.

Claire halted in front of a photograph. Two teenage girls, one summery blond, the other a darker brunette, stood in a kitchen. Faye and Claire. Their arms were wrapped around each other. Bright smiles crinkled the corners of their eyes. On the island in front of them were a variety of cupcakes and cookies. Happiness and friendship radiated from the image. It made Gavin’s heart ache.

“This was the day before we started high school.” Claire’s voice was hollow. “Can you believe Faye knew, even back then, that she wanted to own a bakery? She spent hours trying new recipes. I hate baking, but she roped me into her projects.”

She grew quiet for a long moment. “I should’ve made more of an effort to stay in contact with Faye when I went to college. And then again when I moved home. My attention has been on work, raising Jacob…I didn’t make room in my life for anything else.”

Gavin slipped his hand into hers. She was hurting. There wasn’t much he could say to ease her pain. The best way to help Claire with her grief was to walk beside her through it.

She interlinked their fingers together and leaned her head on his shoulder. Gavin ran his thumb over the ridge of her knuckle. “Tell me more about Faye.”

“She had this bubbly, fun personality. She ate her hot dogs and french fries with mayonnaise. And she loved pranks. Not mean ones, but anything that would make someone laugh. One time she filled my locker with rubber snakes. I jumped a mile high. We laughed about that for months.”

“She sounds like someone I would’ve liked.”

Claire tilted her head to look up at him and gently squeezed his hand. “She would’ve liked you too.”

The look in her eyes tempted him to lean forward and brush a kiss across her mouth. He resisted. They’d agreed to be friends, and he didn’t want to jeopardize the relationship by pushing for more than either of them was ready for.

“Claire.” Mary Ellen approached them. “Thank you for coming.”

Gavin released Claire’s hand so she could embrace Faye’s sister. The two women shared a long hug and a few tears.

“Do you have any news about the case?” Mary Ellen swiped at a lingering tear with a tissue. Her gaze darted between Gavin and Claire. “Maybe it shouldn’t be my focus, but all I can think about is getting Faye’s killer off the streets so he can’t hurt anyone else.”

“That’s on all our minds,” Claire reassured her. “In fact, if you’re up to it, we’d like to ask you some more questions. Is there someplace we can speak privately?”

“Yes. Come on.” Mary Ellen led them out of the annex and down a short hallway to a children’s nursery. Depictions of Bible stories in bright colors decorated the walls. Tables and chairs, sized for toddlers, were arranged in a T shape. She shut the door behind them. “How can I help?”

Gavin hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “We believe your suspicions are correct, and Faye was killed because of her investigation into Stephanie’s disappearance. Since Stephanie worked for you, I’m hoping you can help us narrow down who might want to harm her.”

Mary Ellen sat on a table. Her shoulders curved inward. “I don’t know. Stephanie was a sweet girl. She had issues with her family, especially her stepfather, but I think it became better once she moved into her own place.”

“What can you tell us about Stephanie’s relationship with the Scott family?”

She blinked. “Well, Stephanie volunteered for the mayor’s reelection campaign. She was friendly with all of the Scott family. Heather, especially. They chatted regularly.”

Interesting. When they’d spoken to Heather, she’d failed to mention Stephanie’s volunteer work and had downplayed their friendship. An oversight? Or a purposeful lie? Gavin wasn’t sure.

“What about Ian?” he asked.

“There was a flirtation between Stephanie and Ian, but nothing serious. Some joking and a bit of teasing. Ian was involved with Heather at the time and Stephanie was dating…” Mary Ellen’s eyes widened. “Now that I think of it, Ian’s flirting caused Stephanie a lot of issues with Alex. He was incredibly jealous. I remember one time he showed up at the bakery and accused Stephanie of cheating on him. Alex was furious. Screaming and creating a scene. Faye stepped in and I thought Alex would strike her.”

Alex didn’t have a violent criminal record, but some people were good at hiding their darker sides. “Were there any other incidents you can think of?”

“No. It was just the one time. I didn’t even remember it until now, otherwise I would’ve told you about it during our first conversation.” Mary Ellen chewed her lip. “Do you think Alex could be involved?”

“I don’t know.” Gavin intended to find out though. “Keep this conversation between us for now.”

“Of course.”

Gavin and Claire said goodbye to Mary Ellen and made their way to the parking lot. Dusk was falling. The clouds had dissipated, giving way to a gorgeous Texas sunset. Any other time, Gavin would’ve stopped to admire the view. Instead, his attention was fixed on their surroundings and any potential dangers. He kept close to Claire’s side. “Any thoughts?”

“My head is spinning with them. I?—”

Her phone beeped. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. “It’s a text from Ian. He’s requesting to speak to us about the case.” She glanced at Gavin. “He has information for us and says it’s urgent.”

The Westcott Country Club sat on a small hill overlooking the lake. Gold accents gilded the main lobby. Claire's boots were soundless as she crossed the marble floor to the dining area. Gavin kept pace beside her. A ma?tre d’, wearing white gloves and a tux, escorted them to a private table in the rear of the restaurant.

Ian was seated, waiting for them, his gaze lost as he stared out the window next to him. Dark hallows shadowed the area under his eyes and two days of scruff covered his jaw. He twisted a glass of whiskey in his hands.

“Your guests, sir.” The ma?tre d’ announced.

The words brought Ian out of his trance. He stood and greeted both Claire and Gavin with a handshake. Pleasantries were exchanged. Claire pulled out a chair across from Ian and sat. Anxiety churned her stomach, but she forced herself to relax her shoulders. Ian had requested this meeting, and it was best to let him lead it.

Ian picked up the glass of whiskey and took a sip. “First, allow me to apologize for my father’s behavior. I heard about the incident in your office. The article in the newspaper wasn’t your fault.”

Where was he going with this? Claire hated being suspicious of Ian’s motives. She liked him as a person, but the more this case developed, the more questions she had. “You don’t need to apologize for your father. I understood why he was upset. He’s merely looking out for you.”

Ian snorted. “He’s looking out for the Scott family name. I’m just a part of that. But you didn’t come here to talk about the issues I have with my dad.” He licked his lips and twirled the whiskey glass. “How certain are you that Faye’s murder is connected to Stephanie’s disappearance?”

Gavin stiffened. It was so slight, Claire wouldn’t have noticed, except that he was sitting close enough to have their arms touching. She kept her voice neutral. “It’s a lead we’re pursuing. Why?”

“I worked with Stephanie during my father’s reelection campaign. She was a ray of sunshine and good at her job. Sweet. I cared about her. And Faye.” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. His eyes were bloodshot. “I would look closely at Alex Sheffield. He and Stephanie had a volatile relationship. She broke up with him, but he wouldn’t accept it. He stalked her. Called at all hours. Watched who she was with.”

“Did she tell you this?”

He nodded. “She feared him. It made me worried for her safety.”

Claire had the impression Ian cared deeply for Stephanie. “When Stephanie disappeared, did you report any of this to Sheriff King?”

“No.” His gaze drifted out the window again. “I was foolish. I thought…it doesn’t matter what I thought. I’d hoped—still do actually—that Stephanie is doing well someplace far from here.” Ian pushed away from the table. “I’d better go. Heather will be waiting for me. Thank you for meeting me here. Since the country club is exclusive, we won’t have any pesky reporters popping out to take photographs of us.”

Ian took a final swig of his whiskey, draining the glass. From the flush in his cheeks, Claire was certain this wasn’t his first alcoholic beverage of the evening. She’d never seen Ian drink before. And the gauntness in his face was recent. He looked like a haunted man.

He smacked the glass down on the table. “It’s my wedding anniversary next month. Heather wants to throw a big party to celebrate here at the country club.”

“Congratulations.” Claire forced a smile. “You and Heather were childhood sweethearts, right?”

He nodded, twisting his wedding ring around on his finger. “We were destined to get married. My dad kept pushing and pushing. Fighting him…it’s like resisting a tsunami. Impossible.”

There was a thread of anger in his voice. Claire sensed there was a hidden meaning to this pivot in the conversation, but she didn’t know Ian well enough to make it out.Could there be more to his relationship with Stephanie than a harmless flirtation? Had they dated?

“What is going on here?” Heather strolled into the room, her high heels not slowing her long-legged stride in the least. She wore a crisp business suit, her hair styled in soft waves that framed her beautiful face. Diamonds earrings and a designer purse completed the ensemble.

She halted at the end of the table. Her cheeks were flushed, and she cast Gavin and Claire a look of derision. “Haven’t you done enough damage? The mayor told you to call ahead of time before you question any of us.”

Her tone was caustic. Claire’s brows arched. A smart retort was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back down when Ian rose from his chair. He kissed his wife on the cheek. “Don’t get all riled up, Heather. The sheriff was kind enough to stop by and apologize for the news story in the paper today.”

Heather opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. “Oh.”

Ian glanced at his watch. “We should be going. We’re late for our meeting with the event planner. Sheriff, Ranger Sterling, thank you again for your kind words.”

He quickly hustled his wife from the room. Gavin’s stunned expression matched Claire’s own feelings. Every encounter with the Scott family left her more confused than the last. Through the open doorway, she watched Ian and Heather greet another woman with forced smiles.

“Ian’s hiding something,” Gavin whispered. “From us. And I suspect, from his wife.”

Claire sighed. Another headache was brewing in her temples. “I know. But is he hiding a relationship with Stephanie? Or murder?”

Gavin slipped through a set of trees on the Wilsons’ property. Frigid air, scented with pine and dried leaves, filled his lungs. Moonlight trickled onto the lake. Everything was quiet. And yet, Gavin couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of unease inside him.

A state trooper sat in front of Daniel and Lindsey’s home. Gavin lifted a hand in a wave as he passed. The lights in the house were dark. Not surprising given the late hour. He kept to the walkway, following it to the boathouse. He checked to make sure the building was secure.

It was. The door was equipped with a new lock that required a code to open it. From his vantage point, Gavin could see the back of Claire’s cabin. The lights in the living room were on. She sat on the couch, reading something on her laptop, a fluffy blanket across her lap. The fireplace was on and a mug sat on the coffee table.

What would it be like to stroll in through the door, have Claire rise from the couch, and brush a kiss across his mouth? Gavin’s breath stalled at the thought. He hadn’t realized until this moment how much he wanted that.

Lord, I know we’ve been speaking a lot about keeping Claire safe, but I need more help than that. These feelings I have for her…are they real? Am I ready to fall in love again? I don’t want to make a mistake with Claire or Jacob. I need Your guidance to find the right path.

Peace washed over him. It didn’t solve the problems Gavin was facing, but it reassured him that an answer was coming. He would keep his heart open and trust that God would lead him.

Gavin’s phone beeped. He checked the text message. His heart skipped a beat when he realized it was from Claire.

Can you talk? I found something of interest.

Gavin jogged up the path to Claire’s house. He knocked on the back door and she appeared a moment later. Her hair was floating around her shoulders in golden waves, face clear of makeup, dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt. She was so beautiful, it took his breath away.

Claire disarmed the alarm and opened the door. She waved him inside. “I didn’t realize how late it was before I texted you. Did I wake you?”

“Nope. I was doing a final perimeter check. What’s going on?”

She led him into the living room and sat on the sofa, pulling her computer back onto her lap. Claire patted the couch next to her. Gavin obliged her silent request. The scent of her perfume tickled his nose as she drew closer to show him the laptop screen.

“The county has a social media page for event announcements and news.” Claire clicked on a page and scrolled down. “As you can see, citizens post photographs they’ve taken while attending these events. I searched back two years ago, around the time of the mayor’s reelection campaign and Stephanie’s disappearance, and found this.”

She enlarged a photograph. It’d been taken at an outside event. People were holding drinks, in small groups, talking. Gavin spotted Ian standing with Stephanie. He had his hand on her shoulder, his head tipped toward hers as if he was whispering something in her ear. Or kissing her cheek. Either way, the pose appeared intimate. In the shadows, Heather and the mayor stood by, watching. Both had scowls on their faces.

Gavin's stomach clenched. “Are there any more like this?”

“No. But this picture supports my instincts.” Her expression darkened. “I suspect there was more than a flirtation between Ian and Stephanie.”

Gavin’s mind whirled with the possibilities. “They were dating.”

“Secretly. Or, at least, they thought so. Alex was incredibly jealous. If he found out Stephanie and Ian were having a relationship, it would've enraged him. Unfortunately, all we have at the moment is a theory. Have you heard from Luke? Was he able to verify Alex’s alibi?”

“Not yet. He called Alex’s friend half a dozen times today, but no one answered. Luke will knock on the guy’s door first thing tomorrow morning.” Gavin couldn’t resist reaching out to take her hand. “We’re getting closer, Claire.”

“I know.” She squeezed his hand. “Thank you for supporting me today at Faye’s memorial service. I knew it would be hard, but I wasn’t prepared for how much. Having you there made it easier.”

Her words sent warmth flooding through him. He lifted his hand to brush a strand of hair away from her forehead. Her skin was silky under the pads of his fingers. “I’m here anytime you need me, Claire. All you have to do is ask.”

“I’m not good at that. The asking part.”

She leaned closer, her gaze dropping to his mouth. His heart took off like a rocket, even as he stilled. Kissing her was a bad idea. A terrible idea. They didn’t know where things were going and getting closer might only end in heartbreak, but for the life of him, Gavin couldn’t get one muscle to move away from her.

Claire’s mouth brushed against his, featherlight and sweet. Molten heat spread through Gavin. He pulled her closer, and when their lips met again, his heart opened. It felt like he was tumbling into an abyss without a safety harness. He lost himself, letting the world fade into the background as the kiss deepened. Nothing had ever come close to this.

He pulled back, breathless. It took everything inside Gavin not to lean forward and kiss her again. He ran a thumb over her bottom lip as fear niggled its way through his runaway emotions. They needed to have a conversation.

“Claire, there’s something I need?—”

The sound of breaking glass reached Gavin’s ears half a heartbeat before Claire’s security alarm blared. Ice flooded his veins. In an instant, he was on his feet, weapon in hand.