Long Simmering Spring (24 page)

Julie nodded, knowing exactly how Cameron felt. She loved her practice and couldn’t imagine not giving it her all. But lately she’d found room for other things. Like Cole. “Still, I can’t believe you, of all people, aren’t dating anyone.”

“I go out every once in a while, but honestly, I’m not that into it.” She shrugged. “The men I meet in my family’s circles are usually overly entitled and terribly dull, and the men who don’t run in those circles usually have some sort of issue with who I am.”

“Who you are?”

Cameron glanced down. “I’m not trying to sound ungrateful, but the money always gets in the way.” Her gaze was back up now. “Let me try to explain so you won’t think I’m a super snob.”

“I don’t think that,” Julie said. “Please do.”

“All right.” She took a deep breath. “If men have money—at least the men I know—a lot of times they’re content to let their parents fund their lifestyles. I find that singularly unattractive. If they
don’
t have money, that’s a problem, too, given where I’m coming from. They’re either too interested in my money or intimidated by it. And pretty much all of them assume I’m some pampered princess.”

“But you’re not!” Julie said.

Cameron gave her a half-smile. “I try not to be. I haven’t touched my trust fund. I set up my business myself. You know how hard I work. I really want to see if I can make it on my own.” She paused. “And the more I make my own mistakes—and figure out how to fix them—the more I’m sure I can.”

“I know your store is doing beautifully in Boston, and I can’t help but think you’re going to do well here, too.”

“We’ll see. I hope so, but I’m banking on the summer season. But enough about me. How is
your
business going?”

Cameron sounded a lot like
she
used to sound, but thanks to Julie’s new mind-set, she was a lot more bullish on how things were doing. “All right. My practice is seasonal too, but in a different way. Fall and winter are flu and cold seasons. Spring is hay fever season.”

“And what’s summer?”

“Jellyfish season.”

Cameron laughed. “Ouch!”

Julie shook her head. “You have no idea how many jellyfish stings I saw in my weekend clinics last summer. I think there was some kind of surge.”

Just then, a phone rang. “Uh-oh,” Cameron said, reaching into her jacket pocket. “I hope that’s not Anna.” She fished out her phone and answered.

While Cameron spoke, Julie turned her face to the horizon, scanning the water, watching as a distant ferryboat chugged its way to the next port. After observing the ferry’s path for a few moments, she turned her head to gaze at a large yacht moored about a thousand feet offshore. It looked well appointed. Perhaps some celebrity had decided to take a Cape vacation. It wouldn’t be the first time. Only a few years ago, the President had come out to spend a week on Martha’s Vineyard. She was still staring out at the water when Cameron clicked off her phone.

“That
was
Anna, but she was only calling to tell me that her trial run minding the store is going well and that I shouldn’t worry. I’m glad she called.”

“Me too, if only to get you to relax even more.”

“Relax? What’s that?”

Both women laughed. They walked down the beach for another half-mile and then doubled back. Julie noticed an ease to Cameron’s gait that hadn’t been there when they’d started their hike. Cameron actually
had
relaxed a little. And so had she.

Back at the parking lot, Julie said goodbye to Cameron and threw on a jacket plucked from the front seat of her car. Despite wearing a long-sleeved shirt, she was starting to get chilly. Then she drove back to town, and after some searching finally found a parking spot far enough down Front Street. It was only the last week in April, but the tourist season was already starting to pick up. Some of the traffic was probably for the upcoming Daffodil Festival, but over the next few weeks, more and more people would visit. After Memorial Day, their little town would explode.

It wasn’t like this when she was growing up. Star Harbor had been sleepy and dying. The tourists had revived the town, and if during the summer they swarmed all over like they owned the place, it was a small price to pay for keeping Star Harbor vibrant and fresh.

Lisa and Cloris had left for the day when Julie got to her office, so she began to gather up what she needed to take home. She printed out some work, and was about to leave when she realized her trash can was full. After shoving her papers into her tote, she tied the trash bag and made sure her computer was fully shut down.

Stepping out the back door into the alley, she turned to lock the dead bolt. Then she froze.

On the door frame were deep gouges, as if someone had tried to pry the door open from the outside. A pit of fear formed in her stomach. Had this been done recently? Quickly, Julie glanced around. The alley was narrow and was lined by the back of the brick buildings from two streets. Thankfully, it was empty. She tossed the trash into the Dumpster. Slinging the tote over her shoulder, she half-ran down the narrow street, trying to get to the main road—and to lots of people—as fast as she could.

When she reached Main Street, her heart was pounding, and it wasn’t from jogging down the alleyway. She needed to tell Cole, right away. He’d flip out again, most likely—something she really didn’t want to contemplate. Still, at this point, she knew she didn’t have a choice in the matter. She’d promised to let him know if anything unusual happened. This was more than unusual—an attempted break-in at her office was serious business.

She whipped out her cell phone and texted him.

Julia Kensington: Situation at my office. Pls come now.

Her phone rang almost immediately.

“What’s going on?”

“I think someone may have tried to break into my office.”

“Are you inside?” Cole demanded. Even through the telephone line she could tell he was clenching his jaw.

“No. I’m on the corner of Main and Front. I’m not alone,” she said, trying to reassure him. “There are some people around.”

“Stay put. I’ll be there in three minutes.”

The phone went dead.

She sighed, her mind in turmoil. Too many troubling events had happened over the past few weeks—her dual assaults by Don Rathbone, not to mention his attack on his own family; the missing prescription pads; maybe being watched at her house; this attempted break-in—if that’s what it really was.

The events had to be related, though honestly, there didn’t seem to be any pattern. Cole would help her work through everything.

Three minutes later on the dot, Cole had his squad car pulled up right at the corner, lights flashing. He got out and slammed the door shut.

“Thanks for coming so quickly,” she said.

“Thanks for calling me this time,” he responded, eyes steely. “Where?”

“The back door.”

“Show me.”

Julie led Cole down the alleyway and unlocked the back door for him so he could get a good look, and look he did. He did a sweep of her office and radioed one of his deputies to do a sweep of the downtown. He examined the marks, the door, and the rest of the alley. He dusted for prints and took photographs. He jotted a bunch of notes down on some kind of official-looking pad. When he was through, he escorted her back to his squad car. She slid into the front seat and waited. He spent a few minutes asking her some questions and making more notes. Then he popped his seat belt on. Pointedly, he waited until she’d done the same before he started driving.

“I’m taking you home. We’ll pick up your car tomorrow.”

“All right,” she said.

He was silent for a while. Just clenched his jaw over and over and stared at the road.

“Everyone in town knows I keep a lot of expensive equipment and medicine in there,” she offered, mostly to break the silence.

“And prescription pads,” he said.

“Yes. Those, too.”

They arrived home just after five thirty. Cole parked in the driveway and grabbed her bags from the car. Even as she stepped up to the front door, she could tell something wasn’t right. The door was unlocked and was slightly ajar. This couldn’t be a coincidence.

A sickening fear sliced through her.

“Cole!” she shouted.

“What?” he responded, right behind her on the steps. Then he noticed the open door. “Get back to the car. Now!” he demanded, whipping out his radio to call for backup.

She sprinted back to the car and shut the door, just in time to see Cole take out his gun and push the door open.

CHAPTER 19

Cole leaned against a wall and slowly surveyed the scene in front of him. He was not happy with what he saw. Julie’s family room had been completely tossed, papers scattered, books askew, and drawers rifled through. Pete and another deputy, Kip O’Leary, picked through the wreckage, looking for clues and dusting for prints, while Hank stood nearby with Julie, finishing up with her statement. Cole had thought it wiser to have Hank manage that task. He’d done a fairly decent job of keeping his temper in check, but he was hyperaware of the anger simmering in his gut. The one saving grace had been that Julie hadn’t been home when the perpetrator entered.

But despite the fact that her house had been torn apart, despite the fact that she had to be pretty rattled, she was giving Hank crisp, clear, calm answers to his questions. She was a professional, all right.

“Well, Julie, that’s all I need for now,” Hank said, scribbling some final notes on his report pad before closing it. “If you figure out that anything is missing, give me a call at the station.” Hank glanced at Cole for confirmation that he was finished, and Cole gave him a curt nod.

“Sure, Hank. I’ll do that,” Julie said, eyeing Cole a bit nervously. He didn’t blame her; he knew the expression on his face was more than dark. But when it came to her safety, he couldn’t seem to rein it in. “Who could have done this?” she asked.

“Don Rathbone’s at the top of my list,” Cole said.

“Don? But he’s still in jail!”

Cole shook his head. “Found out he made bail within two hours. He must have some pretty powerful friends we don’t know about. Someone is jerking his chain.”

“Do you really think that Don did this?”

Cole pushed off the wall and came to stand near her. “I don’t think so,” he said slowly. “It’s not really his style to go to this much trouble, but he’s been coming after you so often lately, I have to think that more than Margo’s at play here.”

She shuddered and hugged her arms across her chest. “Stealing stuff from my office makes sense. Like I said, I keep a lot of valuable things there—it’s a doctor’s office after all. But what could they have been looking for
here
to go through everything like this?”

“Any number of things.” He studied Julie intently. “You’re sure nothing’s missing?”

She stared back, not shying away from his gaze. “As far as I can tell, no, but it’ll take me a long time to get through everything.”

“I can help you. It was pretty gutsy to do this during the daytime. I’m guessing the person—or people—who did this cased the place before breaking in and knew you’d be out. This house has been picked over pretty well. That takes time. And I’m also guessing he probably didn’t find what he was looking for.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because every single room has been tossed. Sure, he could have found whatever he was looking for in the last room, but it’s more than likely he left empty-handed. That might have been why the perp went after your office, too.” Cole turned to his deputy. “Hank, check the perimeter. I’ll be out in a minute to help you.”

“Sure thing, boss, although it’s pretty dark outside now. Not sure how much I’m going to find.” A few moments later, Cole heard the creak of the front door as it opened, then shut.

“So you think this is connected to the break-in at my office?” she asked.

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Cole responded.

“That makes two of us. All of this makes me wonder if the prescription pads really are at play. After all, I did have them shipped to my house, but they came, I signed for them, and I brought them to the office, just like I planned. And they’re definitely still in the supply closet, right where I put them.”

He set his mouth in a straight line. “You could be on to something with those pads. It’d be a recent connection between here and your office. All the more reason to set up our sting and get clearance to start as soon as possible.”

“None of this makes sense,” Julie said. “There have to be other sources for those stupid pads. Why come after me?”

“I don’t know,” Cole admitted. “But I will find out. Anyway, this settles it. We are definitely not staying here tonight.”

“Where are we going to stay?”

She was looking up at him with her big eyes. He just wanted to get lost in those little flecks of color—green and brown, amber and gray—but he kept himself together.

“Two choices,” he ground out. “Hotel or Val’s boat.”

“Val’s boat.”

He let out a sigh of relief that she’d agreed so willingly, then embraced her. “Thank you. I’ll get to the bottom of this. I swear I will.” He kissed her forehead gently. “Now pack up some of your things for tonight. The sooner we get out of here, the better.” He walked her to the foot of the stairs, then headed to the front door, grabbing the large utility flashlight he’d placed on the hall table. Stepping out into the night, he flicked on the flashlight. It wasn’t long before he found something.

“Hank!” he bellowed into the night air.

Hank came around the side of the house. “Yeah, boss?”

“Take a look at this.” He pointed to a cellar window. The lock on the window was broken.

“Well, that’s the point of entry,” Hank said calmly. “I didn’t find anything else.”

“Sloppy, if you ask me. Does this look professional to you?”

“Nope. Amateur job. I could come back when it’s light out and take another look around.”

“Do that, Hank, and have the guys dust for prints out here, too. Not that I think we’ll find any.” There weren’t any prints outside Julie’s office door or in the shed after that Peeping Tom incident. Clearly, whoever was doing this was being careful.
Assuming the incidents were even related.
“I already did my workup at Julie’s back office door, but I’d like a second opinion. I think the perp might have extended his search from here to there. He’s probably after the prescription pads, but I’m not ruling out any other motive. Like revenge.”