Tainted Waters

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Her cell phone chirped, causing her to jump. Just in case it was something important, Sam pulled the car over to check it out. Shelley was texting her.

DD said you got hurt.

nope just a scratch from a branch, nothing serious. had fun.

DD's hair was wet and her clothes were damp when she got home said she'd been wet

had a shower, got clothes a bit wet. Not that she was going to share with Shelley that it had been because of a swim in the lake.

like I said we had fun

DD said you met a man.

Sam gulped. Oh-oh.

a neighbor, nice old guy.

oh bye

Sam stuffed her phone in her pocket before pressing her fingertips across her forehead. Shelley was always looking for some reason that DD couldn't hang out with her. According to her sister-in-law, she was corrupting her daughter. This was just another excuse to be mad at her. She just hoped it would not create another fight between Kyle and Shelley. She knew without his support and approval, Shelley would have shut her out of her niece's life a long time ago. Shelley hated the close relationship between the two of them.

A new text came in. luv u dd

DD had to have known what her mother was doing and went and found her dad's old cell phone that was really hers, unbeknownst to her mother. Something else Shelley would have freaked over, her daughter knowing how to text. More to the point, that Sam had taught her how to do it.

Dusk had fallen. It startled her for a minute how black it had gotten suddenly. She pulled back onto the road but slowed as she turned onto Lake Road, not only because it was windy and descended into a valley but because there were lots of wild animals that roamed the area. With the last vestiges of light waning fast, they were even harder to see. Peering through the dark shadows, she looked around, hoping to catch the sight of any deer moving before it ran out on the road. After she rounded the curve, she sped up for the short straight stretch, slowed for the next curve and, as she was just coming out of it, she looked toward the lake. She didn't expect to see much; it was just a reflex as she knew her family's cabin was almost straight across. A light flickered through the trees. She slammed on the brakes; the gravel crunching with the sudden stop. She pulled over to the side, out of sight of the cabin.

She glanced over her shoulder; the peek-a-boo illumination flickering through the bushes caught her attention again, reminding her what she'd seen. She climbed out of her Grand Am, gently easing the door closed with a soft click. Crouching, she ran back to the driveway entrance. There was nothing.

The guy she'd run into the last time she'd been out here came to mind. She'd forgotten all about him. Who was he? And what had he been doing?

The conversation with her mom came back to her. Tuesdays, someone cleaned up the yard. Could he be the maintenance guy?

She ducked low and followed the row of caraganas that grew along one side of the lane. It was dark enough out that she couldn't see or hear anyone, so she took a chance and dashed across the driveway. She flattened her back against the cabin and edged her way along it until she could see through the window.

There was a faint glow coming from within. There hadn't been anyone living there in almost ten years, that she knew of. She was sure she'd have heard if anyone had moved in.

Who could it be?

At the corner, a large bush blocked her view. Taking a deep breath to calm her shaky nerves, she stepped out, moving quietly around the bush. The next thing she knew, she was being tackled and was soon flat on the ground.

"Aaaaahhhhhh. Oomph."

Wrestling as hard as she could, she flipped over onto her back. Without thinking, she drew back her fist and punched the person square in the jaw.

"Ouch. Dammit. Hold still."

A few more minutes of squirming and fighting, with little success of removing the weight that was pinning her down, she soon ran out of steam.

"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." She screamed, hating that she couldn't move the mass that was sitting on top of her. She lay still for a full minute, breathing hard, trying to catch her breath.

"Who are you? And what are you doing sneaking around my place?"

It didn't matter what the person was asking her; she wasn't listening. She was intent on getting free. She planted her feet on the ground, bent her legs, and with all her might threw her midsection upward, twisting at the same time. She caught him off guard. He flipped up and over her, landing headfirst into the ground. She rolled to the side, gaining her feet but didn't even make it a full step before she was flat on her back, then being straddled and pinned down again.

"I should have known it would be you. Nice move. Now, want to do some explaining."

They had moved from the shadows and were now in the light's path, coming from the house.

"You." Sam groaned, the only time she'd seen this man, they seemed to run into each other, literally. "Get off."

When he did, she rolled over and rose to her hands and knees, panting heavily.

"Are you okay?"

She tossed her hair out of her face which had come loose from its ponytail and peered up at Keegan.

"Cripes, whoever I pissed off really must think I need an ass-kicking," she muttered under her breath as she ignored his outstretched hand and stood up. She looked at him wearily. His mop was disheveled and just long enough to brush his eyebrows. His piercing blue eyes stared back at her. Nice sexy look. She clapped her hand over her mouth and pretended to laugh, to cover her snort. Her mom would love him. He looked in need of mothering. If her mother knew she'd met a man, she'd have her walking down the aisle by Saturday. It didn't matter if she knew his name or not.

"What?"

She shook her head. The black night seemed to close in around them in the soft glow from his kitchen window. She stepped back.

"You're bleeding."

Swiping at the spot he indicated on her forearm, her hand came away with a hint of blood. Twisting her arm, she could see a deep scratch on the back of it.

"DD would kick your butt if she saw this."

He laughed. "I'm sure she would. Come in and clean up. I think it's time we talked. Don't you?"

Annoyed with him, she realized that she didn't fear him. Not sure that her gut instinct would work with him, especially when he flashed his killer smile and pushed back those sandy curls that reminded her of all things sinful, she followed him into the cabin.

It was set up very similar to her family's cabin. Upon entering, there was a big open area— the kitchen to the left, the living room to the right, with two bedrooms and a bathroom at the back. The furniture looked like it had been purchased at the same time hers had been, the '70s if she was to guess by the green, yellow, and orange flowers covering it. The place looked as unlived in as hers did. There were a few telltale things that someone was living there, but they would be easy to hide.

"Have a seat. I'll get you a cloth for your arm."

Ignoring his request, Sam waited until he'd gone into the bedroom before circling the small cabin, noting everything—the books on the shelves by Tim Stalton, the pile of papers and the computer sitting on a desk, and a small table tucked in the corner to the right of the fireplace. Making her way over to the mess, she didn't have more than a few seconds to check out what was lying off to the side. The glow from the propane lamp he was using reminded her there was no electricity in the cabins. Something she hadn't thought through when she'd moved out here. She felt his presence before she heard him. Pretending she didn't know he was there, she nonchalantly moved to look out the window at the black night.

"Why don't you sit here?" He indicated the overstuffed chair. "Can I get you something to drink?"

She looked at him questioningly before moving to the old-fashioned stuffed chair with wooden arms. It was with relief that she sunk down into the seat as her legs were a bit shaky. Exhaustion was catching up to her. With the cloth he offered, she dabbed at her arm.

"Water's fine." She kept her head bowed, her hair obscuring her face until he returned.

"I don't think we've really met. I'm Sam."

"I'm …" there was just the tiniest of hesitations, "Tim."

"Really? Nice to meet you … Tim." She took a good drink of her water. "Or is it Keegan?"

He looked at her hard for a minute before turning and making his way back to the kitchen. She watched as he pulled out some vegetables, slapped them on a plate, poured ranch dressing in a container, and brought it back, setting it on the rustic coffee table.

Sitting on the long couch, he helped himself to some food and munched away for a few minutes. His blue eyes never left her face. "Both."

Without waiting for him to offer, and not sure he would, she reached forward and helped herself to a handful of carrots. "First name? Middle name?"

"No."

She ate, waiting for him to say more.

"Care to tell me why you're snooping around my place?"

"Care to tell me what you're doing in Mr. Tennison's cabin? One that's been empty for a long time. A very long time."

"I'm renting it."

"Care to tell me why a pen stand that I know was in Harry's office is now on your bookstand?"

"You'd have to ask Mr. Tennison that one."

"Funny. I didn't know anyone was living at the lake. There's been no one out here in years. Uh … other than Mrs. MacNeil, just down the road. And she only came out on weekends. Although her family put a stop to that a year or two ago." She realized she better shut up before she gave away what she knew. That was the story she had used to help Cathy hide the truth that Mrs. MacNeil had been living at the lake for the last several months. It still shocked Sam that the elderly lady's children were more than happy to dump her in her granddaughter's lap. If it hadn't been for Cathy, she wasn't sure who would have made sure she had groceries, got to her doctor's appointments, had visitors.

"It's not well known that I live here. I'm only here some weekends, as well. I like my privacy."

Not sure what his name was, she looked at him and then at the stack of papers by his computer. She slapped her hand onto her thigh. "I get it. You're an author—Tim Stalton. But your real name is Keegan Wesley?"

He didn't look too happy about her figuring it out. She was doing everything she could to hide her excitement. She slid her hands under her thighs, fearing she might start doing DD's excited dance.

"Basically."

"So, you're here writing?"

"Basically."

"Aren't you a bundle of information."

He grinned, his blue eyes coming to life. She blinked a few times before making herself look away.

Wow.

"How'd you end up here?"

"It was quiet. Available. Away from my family and friends. Like I said, quiet."

An awkward silence followed.

"How long have you been here?"

"Not long."

Keegan stretched out his jean-clad legs and that's when she noticed he was barefoot. She'd never thought she had a foot fetish, but she found herself mesmerized by his long slender feet and long masculine toes. Pulling her gaze away from his feet, she noticed that his sandy-colored mop of curls had fallen forward to brush the top of his eyebrows and curled around the sides of his face. He reminded her of a cuddly teddy bear.

"What are you doing here?"

He'd said something. It took her a minute to figure out what. "My family owns the lot across the lake. I'm just keeping an eye on it."

"I haven't seen many people out here. At least, not before I ran into you and your friend last week. Do you come out often?"

"Now and then. A few times. Usually when I can get DD."

"She's your niece?"

"Yeah. She's amazing. She loves the water and I'm lucky that we can come here. We don't make it out here much, but I try to bring her when I can."

"She has Down’s syndrome."

"Yeah. It limits her life in some ways, but she is one smart lady and makes the most out of everything." Sam couldn't help but smile.

The computer in the corner started up from its sleep. A crackling sound came over it. Keegan's eyes widened. He jumped to his feet. "I'm sorry about before, but you might think twice before you poke around other people's property. I have some work to do." He made a swiping motion, indicating he expected her to get up and leave.

Annoyed at his rudeness, she took the hint and moved toward the door which he quickly opened for her.

"Thanks for the water."

"kkkkkkk, George … kkkkkkk … no … kkkkkk … sa."

"It's just a program I watch on the Internet. Bye."

Keegan all but shut the door in her face as she stood there open-mouthed. Did she hear that right? Immediately she thought of George Assenby. And she was sure that had been her name that was being said. Was she watching too many movies? Was she getting paranoid? First, she thought she'd been followed, and now she was hearing her name over a computer.

The idea was rather ludicrous. She, who had lived the quintessential boring life and to whom nothing ever happened, was the subject of some big secret. Her mom might not see her inability to hold down a job as tedious, but even she would say nothing ever really happened in her life. At least not anything she wasn't responsible for creating. The light inside the cabin shut off. She could take a hint.

She pulled out her cell phone, remembering she'd ignored it earlier when it had chimed, letting her know she had a text message. It was from Cathy. She walked down to the lake so she could respond. It was the only consistent place to get cell phone coverage. At least for her, anyway. If she'd break down and get a new one, she wouldn't have a problem out here. Cathy always bragged she could go anywhere out here and have reception.

having fun feel guilty miss grams c u in a week

don't feel guilty grams wud be happy for u have a margarita for her

tx i've had several already wish u were here

me 2 c u soon

She walked to her car, got in, and slowly drove away. The sense that something wasn't right though wouldn't leave her. As she pulled around the end of the lake, there was a spot where the trees parted, leaving a clear view of the lake. She stopped as she looked out over the shimmering water. It was beautiful and reminded her of the fact that she just needed some downtime. She'd been go-go-go-go and she was fried. Not that she had anything to show for her crazy lifestyle. Pushing away those thoughts, she took a deep breath and blew it out. This time, she would figure out what she wanted to do. This time, it would all work out. Feeling better than she had in a long time, she eased up on the brake, letting the car roll forward at a slow pace. It was as she reached the edge of the trees that she saw airplane lights, flying low over the far end of the water. The car was still moving forward, so the trees soon obscured her view. She stopped and backed up. But there was nothing, just a dark sky. She waited several minutes but nothing lit up again.

Am I losing my mind?