Riddle (15 page)

“How about if I pick you up at three and we swing by the Inn? You can tell him you want to go to the fair and because I’ve been helping you out you want to invite me along.”

Grace shook her head. “No. I’m not going to mention you coming along. We’ll spring that on him at the last minute when it would be too awkward for him to say no or back out.” She smiled. “So I’ll take you up on the ride.” She walked him to the door and they stood uncertainly until he bent forward and kissed her lightly on the top of her head. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow at three.”

“Kort be careful. There are a lot of nasty people out there.”

As he went out the door he told her to lock up and after the door closed behind him he listened to the locks turn before going down the stairs. As he got into his truck he glanced up at her window and saw her looking down at him. Grinning broadly, he waved. And she waved back. Watching him get into the truck, Grace wondered what she was getting in to. Somehow, in spite of his size, Kort seemed like a big teddy bear.  She watched as he drove off and a few seconds later a black car pulled out behind him with its headlights turned off.  “I hope that idiot remembers to turn his lights on,” she thought as she closed the curtains and headed to the bathroom to take a shower before going to bed.

As Kort walked into the garage his cell phone rang again. Groaning he looked at the caller ID and saw it was Norma again. Leaning against the truck he answered. It was pointless to continue avoiding her; he’d have to talk to her sooner or later.

“Hey,” her tone was irritated, “I’ve been calling you all day. Where were you?”

Without much thought he responded, “I fell asleep as soon as I got home. It was a long day.”

Norma was silent. For a moment he wondered if she had hung up on him. Then she answered. “I’m sorry. I guess I wore you out last night.” Her voice was strained.

“Norma, about last night, I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what happened…”

She cut him off. “Sorry? You made love to me. You have nothing to be sorry for.” Her tone was sharper still and the sound of it began to grate on his nerves. “How about if you come over tomorrow night and I make a dinner you get to eat?”

Taking a deep breath Kort closed his eyes. “Norma I’m not ready for this yet. I just got home and so much is happening. Can I take a rain check on dinner until I sort some things out?”

Norma was clutching her cell phone tightly. She stared at the closed garage door barely controlling her anger. She imagined getting out of her car, walking across the street, and kicking the door in until she was face to face with him. Instead she said, “I understand. The invitation is there for dinner if you want. I’ll let you go now.” She disconnected without saying good night.

Kort stared at the phone before heading into the house. He knew this wasn’t over yet. He hated to hurt her feelings but his mind was caught up in the possibility he might learn who had really killed Desiree. The knowledge would not give him back the stolen years of his life, but it might give him a future without a crime he didn’t commit hanging over his head.

Agnes had left a note for him and a small light was on in the hall. He quietly climbed the stairs to his room and undressed quickly before tumbling into bed. Turning off the light he lay in the dark trying to fall asleep. But his thoughts were racing. He was amazed by the feisty redhead who had wandered into Riddle just when he needed a friend.  The fact that someone who didn’t know him believed him increased his confidence. It was just possible he could learn the truth and clear his name. It took some time and a lot of tossing and turning before he fell asleep. His last thought was of Grace Donahue and her willingness to help a stranger.

Chapter 25

Kort decided the best way to approach Frank about taking a late lunch was to be completely honest. He was more than a little surprised by Frank’s response. Without hesitation Frank told him to take lunch at the regular time then go ahead and do his “good deed”. He didn’t notice as he walked away that Frank shook his head, grinning broadly.

At five minutes before three he waved at Frank and drove down to Grace’s building. He was surprised to see her sitting on the bottom step waiting for him. She smiled as she hurried to the truck and climbed in.

“I would have come upstairs to get you,” he told her.

She buckled her seat belt and turned slightly to face him. “I thought this would be quicker.”

Kort proceeded to tell her about Frank and how agreeable he had been. Then he chuckled. “I believe he thinks you’re my girlfriend.”

Grace chuckled too. “We hardly know each other. He must think I’m pretty wild.”

Kort glanced at her. “Well you do have that wild child look with that red hair.’

She punched him lightly on the arm. “Be nice.” Ordinarily a comment like that would have annoyed her. “Okay I’m going to go in and tell Tony I want to go to the fair. But you have to drop me off and not wait. If he sees you he might become suspicious.”

Kort frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you running across that road. It’s pretty busy this time of day. How about if I wait at the side of the building?”

Grace shook her head. “No. I can get across. I’ll call you later and let you know what he said.”

Although he did not like the idea he agreed. “What time do you get off tonight?”

“I should be off at eleven. But I’ll call you before that.” Grace was getting excited as she thought about what lay ahead.

He turned onto the main road. “I can pick you up and give you a ride home. You are not walking up the hill at that time of night.”

Grace was surprised at how stern he sounded. “No, one of the girls will give me a lift. You don’t need to come back.”

Kort squinted at her. “Promise me if you don’t have a ride you’ll call me.”

His expression made Grace laugh. “Pinkie promise,” she joked, sticking out her pinkie finger.

Driving into the motel parking lot he turned to face her. Then he firmly attached his pinkie to hers. “And you better not break it!”

Grace sobered. “I promise I’ll call if I don’t have a ride. I appreciate your concern.” Aware that they were still sitting with their pinkies locked she blushed and tried to pull away. Kort didn’t release her immediately, staring into her eyes. Everything seemed to freeze for a moment and the silence grew. Kort let her finger go slowly.

“Okay then. Be careful with Tony. We don’t know who killed Desiree and he may have been younger but nothing is impossible.”

Looking away Grace nodded, confused by the change in the atmosphere in the truck. For a second she had wondered if Kort was going to kiss her. She was shocked because part of her wanted him to.

“l’ll call you later.” His expression was serious.

She looked back at him. “You be careful too.” With that she slipped out of the truck and went to the motel entrance resisting the impulse to look back.

Kort watched her go into the motel. He wondered if he was drawing her into a dangerous situation. He hardly knew the woman but he was expecting her to go out on a limb for him. More surprising she was willing to do it. The thought he’d been pushing to the back of his mind pressed forward. He was attracted to her. Even though he knew very little about her, what he did know piqued his interest. Add to that the fact that she was attractive and he could easily imagine a relationship with her. He had briefly considered kissing her. Her lips were full and moist and he had a feeling she would taste sweet. Kort found himself growing aroused and he took a deep breath, throwing the truck into gear. “I need to get a grip,” he told himself. But the scent of her filled the truck and it was a struggle to go back to work and not wait for her to come back out from the motel. Getting back to the construction site he made up his mind to re-focus on work. However, during the remainder of his shift, the memory of her mouth crept into his mind.

Chapter 26

Tony had just arrived at work when Grace came through the door. Sandy was in the office closing out her paperwork for her shift and the lobby was empty.

“Hello stranger. Do you want your room back?” He smiled at her.

Grace leaned on the counter and returned his smile. “No but thanks for the offer. I do miss having someone clean up after me though.” She bit her lip then asked, “Is the offer of the fair still open now that I’ve moved out?”

A look of surprise crossed Tony’s face. He had been certain she would ignore the suggestion she join him and his friends. “Absolutely. The fair will be in town for two weeks. When can you go?”

Asking for a piece of paper Grace quickly wrote down her work schedule. “This is what I’m supposed to work but I may be able to switch with someone else if this doesn’t work. Who else is going?”

Tony seemed to be reading over her list. “Hmm?”

“Who else is going to the fair?”

Just then Sandy came out of the office. “Who’s going to the fair?” Smiling at Grace she added a hello.

“Tony asked me to go along with a group and it sounds like fun. Are you going too?”

Sandy looked at Tony sideways. “Well I haven’t been invited.”

Bright red rose from Tony’s neck up to his ears. “I hadn’t gotten around to asking you yet.”

Grace was smart enough to sense Tony had not been entirely honest about a group going to the fair. She wondered if he’d been trying to get her alone and almost laughed when she realized she had inadvertently spoiled his plan. “Oh come with us Sandy! I’ll even treat since you were so helpful in getting me the apartment.”

Avoiding the invitation Sandy asked how the apartment was working out.

“It’s great. Your aunt is very kind. I’m settling in.” She glanced back at Tony, then, turned back to Sandy. “Say you’ll come to the fair.”

“It depends on when you’re going. Although, we could get our part time night auditor if we go at night. Will that work for everyone else?” Something about Grace’s demeanor told Sandy she didn’t want to go alone with Tony. “I haven’t been to the fair in a couple of years.”

Tony had not spoken while the women chatted back and forth but then Grace asked him a direct question. “So can you see if the others would be willing to go in the evening?”

He shrugged and agreed. “Sure. I don’t think it will be a problem. Give me your phone number and I’ll call you when we have a definite day.”

“Great. I can’t wait. I have to get to work. Don’t forget to call me!” Grace turned to leave but Sandy asked her to wait.

“I’m leaving now; I’ll walk out with you. Just let me grab my keys.”

As they left the motel, Sandy looked at Grace curiously. “Did I read you wrong or were you avoiding going alone with Tony?”

Grace offered a smile. “I just thought it might be awkward if it was just the two of us. It sounds like fun and I feel as though all I do is work and wait for my car to be fixed.  You don’t mind coming along, do you?”

Sandy stopped beside her small black car and studied Grace closely. “Is that all there is to it? I mean, Tony is very young.”

At first Grace couldn’t figure out what Sandy was trying to say. As her meaning sunk in Grace laughed. “No. It’s not like that at all. He’s very nice but he’s just a kid. He asked me last night and I got the impression he’s looking for a friend, I mean, I realize he knows you but sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger.”

Still feeling as though something was not quite right Sandy shrugged. “Okay. But he’s very private. So I doubt I’m the kind of person he’d confide in. Maybe you’re right. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to. Be careful though.”

Grace’s ears perked up. “Why would you say that?”

Sandy shuffled her feet uncomfortably. Looking around nervously she told Grace something that made her heart skip a beat. “Not a lot of people know. Last year he had to go to court for stalking some girl he went to high school with. I only know because I had to cover for him. Please don’t say anything to anyone. He would figure out it came from me.”

Barely able to contain herself Grace asked if she was afraid of Tony.

Before answering Sandy got into her car. “I’m not afraid. I just don’t want to be in the middle of anything. Look, I’ll go to the fair but you should think twice before you get involved with people you hardly know. First Kort Eriksen, now Tony.” She shook her head. “I have to go.”

Before Grace could say anything else Sandy had closed the car door, started the engine, and began to move. Grace stepped back quickly and watched as Sandy squealed out of the parking lot. Somehow she had touched a nerve. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket she stepped up to cross the street. Waiting for a lull in the traffic she looked both ways before stepping off the curb. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a car moving toward her and it wasn’t slowing down. She jumped back at the last minute and stared after the black car that sped down the road. Shaking, she stepped well back from the street and took several deep breaths. Once again she watched the traffic before running across the road and up the steps to the diner. Jack looked up as she entered and knew immediately that something was wrong.

“What’s wrong? You’re as white as a ghost.” A worried expression creased his brow.

Grace began pulling her jacket off and it slipped from her shaking hands. Jack bent quickly to pick it up. “Grace, are you all right?”

“I’m okay. I was just crossing the street and nearly got hit by a car.” Her voice was unsteady. She reached for her jacket as Jack took her arm and led her to the break room.

“You need to sit down for a minute. That road is way too dangerous for you to try to cross. You want some water or a soda or something?” Jack began fussing over her. “One of us can pick you up. Don’t cross there again.”

As her breathing returned to normal Grace managed a weak smile. “I’m fine Jack. Please don’t worry. I had Kort drop me off there because I wanted to see…” she stopped knowing there was no way to explain it all to Jack who stood looking at her quizzically. “I wanted to thank Sandy for helping me get the apartment. I won’t do it again.”

“Alright then. Just take a couple of minutes to get yourself together before you come out.” Jack patted her shoulder awkwardly before going back to the diner.

Hanging up her jacket, Grace went into the bathroom and looked at her reflection. She was pale. Holding her hands out, she watched them until they stopped trembling. Replaying the incident in her mind she couldn’t shake the idea the car had tried to hit her. “That’s ridiculous. No one really knows me here. It was an accident, nothing more.” Pushing her suspicions away she washed her hands and headed out to start her evening at work.