Damn him. She knew he’d bring up the phone call. “If the angry man needs to reach me, he’ll call me at Grandpa’s. He doesn’t know I’ve been hiding at your place for the last two weeks.”
He hesitated. “I don’t want to leave Melissa with Jen again tonight, and I don’t want you to be alone in case the man calls.”
“Then bring her! I’d love for my grandfather to meet her. The two of them would get along wonderfully. And I’ll make dinner. I’ll ask Grandpa to pick me up. I’ll leave work early and stop by the store.”
His lips firmed. “You know the thief knows where you live. If he’s also the killer, you don’t want to be running around unprotected.”
She smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll have Grandpa carry his gun.”
Hunter was proud of Melissa as she watched the beginning of the news. She didn’t whine or squirm in her seat. More surprising, she hadn’t clung to his side when they arrived at Tom Hardy’s place. Maybe sitting next to her new best friend, Kerry, helped. His daughter was turning into a wonderful young lady.
The broadcast switched to Kerry holding the head standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
“That’s you, Daddy.”
Kerry ran a hand down Melissa’s head. “It sure is. Would you do me a favor, sweetie?”
His daughter looked up at her. “Sure.”
“My grandfather locked the puppy up in his bedroom. I can hear him cry. He’s lonely. Would you mind playing with him for a bit?”
She swiveled around. “Can I, Daddy?”
Why hadn’t he thought of that? Little girls shouldn’t watch all this death. Besides, how could a father say no to her bright smile? “Sure.”
“I’ll show her where it is,” Tom said.
“Thanks.”
Hunter had only glanced at the first newscast that showcased #1. This time was different. He concentrated on Kerry, on how pretty she looked and how elegantly she spoke. Kerry looked more relaxed tonight, both on and off screen, than she had the first time she’d appeared on camera.
Once their presentation concluded, Kerry flipped off the TV just as Tom and Melissa came back with Buster at her heels.
Kerry stood and smiled down at his daughter. “Are you ready to help me get dinner?”
“Yes!”
Hunter’s pulse spiked at the sparkle in his daughter’s eyes. Melissa missed her mom, needed a woman’s touch.
He couldn’t help but stare long after the two disappeared into the kitchen.
“Sweet little girl you got there, Hunter,” Tom said.
He jerked to attention. “Yes she is. I wish I had more time to spend with her, but the job takes a lot of my focus.”
“I hear ya,” Kerry’s grandfather said.
They sat in awkward silence for a long moment. “I wanted to thank you for letting my Kerry stay with you. I can’t protect her like I used to.” The sadness in the old man’s voice tugged at his heart.
“I don’t think I’m doing much in the way of protecting. It’s more like I’m letting her hide at my place.”
“Well, I’m glad she has you to look out for her. I miss her cooking though. She’s a fine chef.”
“Kerry’s a remarkable woman.” Her culinary skills weren’t what drew him to her. Her passion in needing to identify the dead told him a lot about Kerry as a person. She had a lot of inner strength, spunk, and sincerity.
As long as they were talking about Kerry, now was Hunter’s chance to learn more about her. “What made her leave her job in Ohio and come to Tampa?” He wasn’t about to ask about any exes floating around.
She’d not been willing to share much with him. Kerry answered only when Melissa asked a question. Share, hell. When Hunter had touched her waist to help her reach a bowl in the top cabinet, Kerry had stiffened. Hunter wanted to find out who’d done a number on her.
Her grandfather wagged a finger. “You’ll have to ask her yourself, young man. I stay out of her affairs.”
Before Hunter could formulate another question, the phone in the kitchen rang, and every muscle in his body tensed. He sprang up from the chair and rushed into the kitchen. Kerry seemed frozen at the stove, staring at the phone. Melissa was at the sink washing her hands.
He wiggled his fingers for Kerry to answer the call. Hunter sidestepped to the sink. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s give Kerry some privacy.” The phone kept ringing.
“Why can’t I stay, Daddy?”
“Kerry’s grandpa wants to show you something.” The sharp shrill pierced his heart. Answer it, Kerry!
“Okay!” Melissa skipped out. Not wanting the caller to hang up, Hunter strode to the wall phone, picked up the receiver, and held it to Kerry’s ear, leaving enough space for him to listen. Their cheeks practically touched, as did their fingers. He held his breath, waiting for the caller to speak.
16
It was Susan. Kerry felt Hunter’s shoulders relax against her body the moment her sister’s voice boomed. He gave a gentle squeeze to her waist and walked back into the living room.
“Hi, Susan.” Kerry wasn’t certain she wouldn’t have been happier speaking with the stranger. To be fair, Kerry hadn’t seen her sister in over ten years. Maybe her older sister had changed.
Laughter floated in from the living room, barely louder than her racing heart. Kerry would have given anything to be with Hunter and Melissa rather than conversing with her sister. Seeing Hunter play with his daughter with patience and love would have helped erase her dread.
“I just arrived in Tampa,” Susan announced.
With all the recent turmoil, Kerry had forgotten Susan’s planned visit. She didn’t need to be dealing with a killer and her sister at the same time, but she was curious to find out what was so important to make Susan creep back into town and chance running into her abusing ex-boyfriend.
“I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
“I won’t keep you, but could I stop over tomorrow night? We really need to talk.”
“Where are you staying?”
“At the Holiday Inn on Fowler.”
Thank God Susan didn’t say she planned to stay with Grandpa. Uncharitable, but her sister had never been trustworthy.
“What time do you want to come over?” Kerry grabbed her stomach to stop the ache.
“After dinner. Around seven, okay?”
Hunter could drop her off at Grandpa’s after work, pick her up and drive her back to his place afterwards.
“I’ll be here.”
Susan hung up without saying goodbye. Her sister must be uncomfortable with long conversations. Maybe she believed someone might trace her call—someone like the creepy boyfriend who’d harmed her. But then why come? And why call?
Kerry checked her watch. If Susan were in town, why not ask to come over now? Not that it mattered. Tonight, tomorrow, whenever, the two sisters would meet. Hell. It might not hurt to spend a few hours with her. Maybe Kerry would learn why her sister had acted so strangely when they were growing up.
Stepping over to the wall, she placed the receiver on the hook. Her fingers curled into a claw. She didn’t need this visit right now, but she couldn’t change it now.
Melissa. She needed to be with Miss Cheer. The little girl was the perfect antidote to the tension crawling up Kerry’s shoulders and stabbing her at the back of her head.
She poked her head into the living room. “Who wants to help me cook?”
“Me! Me!” shouted the little girl.
Kerry had fallen hard for Hunter’s daughter. Something about the way she lit up a room helped soothe Kerry’s heart.
Together, Melissa and she prepared a very simple meal–tuna casserole, which was another one of Melissa’s favorites.
“Don’t forget to put the ‘tatorchips on top,” Melissa chirped.
Kerry smiled. “I wouldn’t think of forgetting.” She grabbed a small bag of chips from the pantry, opened it, and handed the bag to Melissa. “You can crunch them.”