Night Waves Read online

  Cali stepped into the brightly decorated kitchen with Nick right behind her. He placed his hand on her lower back and pulled a chair out at the table, and a tingling warmth spread up her spine. She wondered if Nick was being thoughtful again, or if he only wanted to play along with Mrs. Mayes’s matchmaking attempts. Either way, she liked how it felt to have someone looking out for her. Not someone, she corrected. Nick.

  Mrs. Mayes opened a cupboard for a set of plates.

  “I’ll get those for you.” Nick stepped over to help. He grabbed three small plates and set them on the table. Before Mrs. Mayes had a chance to take out the cobbler, he found an oven mitt and opened the door.

  “You’ll make someone a fine husband one day, Nick. Course, I’ve been telling you that a long time. Are you married Ms. Stevens?”

  Cali felt a full-blown blush heat her face. Nick plopped the cobbler on the stove and turned to face her. His mouth twitched into a grin.

  “No ma’am.”

  “Been courting anyone as of late?”

  She hadn’t heard the term “courting” since her grandmother had used it years ago. “Um, I, no ma’am, I’m not dating anyone.”

  Nick took the initiative to save her from further questions. “Have a seat, Mrs. Mayes. I’ll serve the cobbler, then get to that leaky faucet you need repaired.”

  “You’re such a dear.” She scooted into a chair and set aside her cane, looking relieved to sit. “My George used to take care of the maintenance. The good Lord took him home eight years ago as of last month. I still miss him to this day.” She looked at the portion Nick set out on each of the plates. “Get more, Nick. You need to keep your strength up to catch that stalker dude.”

  Cali choked on her first bite of cobbler. “Stalker dude?”

  Mrs. Mayes cupped her hand to her cheek, as if to hide her answer from Nick. “My grandson keeps me up to date on all of the new terms the kids are using these days.”

  Cali had to smother another grin. “Do you see him often?”

  “No, he lives in Washington State. But he sends me e-mails all the time. Nick here is the one who looks after me now. I don’t know what I’d do without him.” Mrs. Mayes patted his arm and took a bite of cobbler. After swallowing she added, “Of course, I keep telling him he should have better things to do with his time than hang out with an old lady.”

  Nick put an arm around Mrs. Mayes and tugged her close. “Now, Mrs. Mayes, you know I can’t resist being in the company of such a lovely woman.” He planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

  Mrs. Mayes hid her mouth with a napkin as she giggled. “If only I were forty years younger.” She sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder and resting her hand over her heart.

  Cali laughed at the woman’s theatrical flirtation.

  Mrs. Mayes looked at Cali and added, “You know, he’s turned away every woman I’ve tossed his way. And let me tell you, there have been plenty of them. He’s a finicky one, I guarantee you that.”

  Cali’s interest piqued and she turned her gaze to Nick.

  “It’s not that I don’t appreciate your help, Mrs. Mayes.” Nick pulled his arm back, sat straight and took another mouthful of cobbler, finishing his plate.

  When he didn’t give more information, Mrs. Mayes offered, “There’s more cobbler if you’d like.”

  “I couldn’t eat another bite. Thanks.”

  Disappointment hit Cali. She had hoped Nick would explain why he had turned away the women.

  Mrs. Mayes sighed. “My George used to say he couldn’t eat another bite. Then after an hour I’d catch him sneaking another plateful.” Her smile faded and she admitted, “You know, it gets lonely around here sometimes. Everyone needs somebody.” Then she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and added, “Right Nick?” She nudged him with her elbow.

  He cleared his throat and gathered the dishes. “I’ll get to that faucet now. You said it’s the one in the bathtub?”

  “That’s right. Every night I hear drip…drip…drop. It darn near drives me crazy. I can’t sleep ‘cause of it. Last night I tried stuffing a washcloth under the drip.”

  “Did it work?” Cali asked.

  “Nope. All it did was change the sound to a smack…smack…smack. I considered taking a hammer to the faucet, but remembered Nick had promised to come by, so I didn’t.”

  Cali chuckled, liking the spirited woman more each minute they spent together.

  Nick said, “I’ll take care of it for you. I’ll go get my tools from the truck.”

  When he stepped outside, the screen door slapped shut behind him and Mrs. Mayes immediately spoke up. “You should know you’re the first girl he’s brought over here for me to meet.”

  Although tempted to explain the real reason Nick had brought her here, Cali played along. “Is that right?”

  “Yes. He’s a good man.”

  “I’ve been told that before.” She remembered Helen’s kind words about Nick. Honest. Trustworthy. But, could she trust him to find Serena?

  “He likes you.”

  Cali shook her head. “He feels responsible for me.”

  “Maybe so. But, take it from someone who’s been around the block a few times, he likes you.”

  She warmed at the woman’s hopeful expression. “I like him, too.”

  “I think he’s handsome, and a good catch.”

  “I do, too.”

  Mrs. Mayes slammed her fist on the table. “Ha! I knew it.” A gloating smile beamed on her thin lips.

  “Knew what?” Nick asked from behind.

  Cali wanted to slink under the table and hide, but she settled for shifting lower in her seat.

  Mrs. Mayes looked at the ceiling, then at the walls. Her gaze finally landed on the table, and she wiped a few crumbs from the lacey tablecloth. “It’s nothing, dear. Just girl talk.”

  “I see. If you don’t tell me now, Mrs. Mayes, I’ll get it out of Cali later. Apparently, I have a certain finesse that makes it hard for people to resist answering my questions.”

  “You go on ahead and interrogate her later. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

  Cali sucked in a breath and sank lower in her seat.

  “Mrs. Mayes…” Nick scolded.

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  Cali would have argued, but knew deep down the woman was right. She liked Nick, more and more each day and she wouldn’t mind spending time alone with him. The realization struck her, and she bolted from the chair. “I see you have a lovely view of the bay. Mind if I take a peek outside?” She pretended to see a bit of the view from the kitchen window.

  “Certainly. I’ll join you.”

  Cali caught the grin on Nick’s face before he turned and headed to the bathroom. Mrs. Mayes stepped outside on the porch, using her cane for support, and Cali followed, trying to hide her intense reaction to Mrs. Mayes’s matchmaking attempts.

  As they settled into a pair of pastel colored Adirondack chairs, Mrs. Mayes commented, “You said Nick feels responsible for you.”

  “Yes, he does.”

  “That’s not a bad thing you know.”

  “I’ve always taken care of myself. I can handle…”

  “Ah. I see.”

  When she became quiet, Cali looked over at her. In the sunlight, Mrs. Mayes’s appearance took on a healthy, natural glow. Her wrinkles added to her charm, rather than taking away from it. Mrs. Mayes sat, picking imaginary fluff from her purple, cotton dress, as if debating what to say next.

  “What do you see?” Cali prodded.

  “I see your fear. You know, letting someone help you…take care of you doesn’t mean you’re not a strong person. Sometimes God puts people into our lives to help us. And it’s up to us to accept that help.”

  “I can handle…”

  “Maybe you can. But should you?”

  Taken aback, Cali sat still for a moment. “I guess I’ve always been afraid if I follow someone else’s lead I’ll be giving up control. That scares me.”

&
nbsp; “We aren’t in control anyway.”

  Cali laughed. “That’s what Nick told me.”

  “He’s a smart man. Maybe he learned it from me. I was his Sunday school teacher for years you know.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “It’s true. I’ve known him since he was born. He comes from a fine family, and he’s turned into a fine man. He’s found the niche God planned for him. He feels responsible to you, and this whole island of people, not out of his official duty, but from his passion for life and from his passion for serving Christ. Even if he wasn’t the sheriff, Nick would still want to look out for you. It’s who he is.”

  “I admire that.”

  Nick walked around the corner of the cottage, startling Cali. “Admire what?”

  “You,” Cali answered without thinking. A shot of heat ran directly to her cheeks.

  His eyebrows lifted and a smile spread across his face as he strode up to lean his elbows across the white porch railing. “Is that so?”

  “It is.”

  “I admire you too, Cali.”

  His gaze locked onto hers, and her breathing hitched and then stopped altogether.

  “Do I hear my cell phone ringing?” Mrs. Mayes stood and headed inside. Cali didn’t hear a thing besides the blood rushing through her ears.

  Nick stepped onto the porch and took the seat next to her. “Mrs. Mayes is quite a character, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is. Did you fix the faucet?” Cali answered, searching for a change of subject, hoping the flush in her cheeks would drain away.

  “Yep. It only took a minute.” His gaze followed a sailboat slowly passing by on the bay.

  “How often do you come here?”

  “At least once a week, sometimes more around the holidays.”

  “Do her sons come to visit much?”

  He shrugged. “Every so often. But, not as often as she’d like them to.”

  Cali shifted in her seat. “She must get lonely.”

  He focused on her and his voice softened, “I do what I can…”

  “You do more than most people would.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not most people.”

  Cali agreed, but didn’t dare say it. In the short time she had known him, he had more than earned her respect and admiration. As her knowledge of him grew, so did her attraction.

  Nick studied her as if her thoughts were transparent. She knew her blush returned when she felt a fresh wave of heat crawling up her cheeks. She quickly looked away, shifting her feet as if she needed to reposition.

  Nick shifted too, and cleared his throat. “Ready to go?”

  “Whenever you are.”

  He stood and offered his hand. “Mind if we stop by the station on the way to my place? I need to check on a few things.”

  “That’s fine.” Cali placed her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. He stepped to open the door, and she felt his gaze follow her into the cottage, causing her nerve endings to tingle. He stepped in behind her and cupped her shoulders in his hands, stopping her before she made it to the kitchen. He leaned in close behind her, and his warm breath touched her ear as he whispered, “You’d better get rid of that blush before Mrs. Mayes sees you, or she’ll think her matchmaking attempts have already worked. You look radiant, Cali.”

  Night Waves

  Night Waves

  Chapter Fourteen

  You look radiant. Nick’s whispered words echoed in Cali’s mind as he drove the truck through the winding roads leading to the station. She glanced repeatedly in his direction as they rode in silence, but his features didn’t betray his thoughts. Her rapid pulse finally slowed by the time he parked the truck.

  “This shouldn’t take too long. Then I’ll take you home.”

  Cali’s heart lodged in her throat. Nick meant his home. She scrambled from the truck before he had a chance to help her out. She knew if he touched her hand again, he would send her pulse on another run.

  Nick held the door for her as they entered the station. Helen stood behind the desk, shuffling through papers, and Deputy Owen stood nearby sipping a cup of steaming coffee. Another deputy whom Cali didn’t recognize walked down the hallway toward the cells in the back.

  Owen looked up. “Sheriff. Cali.” He nodded a greeting and ambled over to them.

  Every trace of softness in Nick’s voice vanished when he said, “I want to see the pictures.”

  Helen looked up from her paperwork. “I put them on your desk, Sheriff.”

  Nick looked at Cali as if unsure of what to do with her. She solved his dilemma by walking over to speak with Helen. “No coffee cake today?”

  Cali caught Nick’s movements from the corner of her eye as he walked with Deputy Owen into his office and shut the door.

  Helen smiled, but lacked the warmth she had shown before. “Not today.” Dark circles of fatigue lay under her eyes.

  Apprehension settled over Cali, and her muscles tensed. “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

  Helen sighed. “No. That’s the problem. We need to find the stalker, Cali. The phone’s been ringing off the hook ever since the sheriff’s press conference. The stalker has every woman on the island running scared.”

  The phone rang.

  Helen answered it. “Yes ma’am. We are doing everything possible.” She paused. “We are taking this seriously. Lower your voice ma’am. The sheriff is…” She blew out a breath and replaced the handset. Apparently, the caller had hung up.

  “I wish I could help you,” Cali offered.

  Helen waved Cali’s concern away. “It ain’t nothing I can’t handle. Oh, I almost forgot. I got a call for you earlier today,” she said before the phone rang again. She answered it, leaving Cali wondering who could have possibly called for her at the sheriff’s station.

  Deputy Owen stepped out of Nick’s office saying, “I’ll go check right now.” His watchful eyes settled on Cali, and he acknowledged her with a nod before walking outside to his cruiser. She watched him back out of his parking spot, wondering what lead they may have found.

  Helen said, “Hold on a minute please.” She put the caller on hold and handed Cali a square slip of paper. “A woman called asking for you. She wouldn’t leave her name. Only her number. Said for you to call her.” She picked up the handset again and took the waiting caller off hold.

  Cali looked at the number written on the note. The first three digits belonged to Coral Isle’s area code. She didn’t recognize the last seven digits, and her pulse kicked up a notch. Who could have called?

  “Dear Lord, it couldn’t be Serena, could it?” Her heart slammed into her chest, and she felt dizzy. She reached for her cell phone, but remembered she had left her purse in Nick’s truck.

  Cali hurried over to his office and nearly collided with him as he came out. He grasped her arms to steady her. “Is everything all right?”

  “I need to use your phone,” she said sounding breathless.

  “Go ahead. I’ll be right back.” If he noticed her anxiety, he didn’t comment on it before leaving her alone in the office.

  Cali walked to the desk and sat in Nick’s leather chair, comforted by the warmth he had left behind. She picked up the phone with shaky hands, and prayed as she dialed the number, Lord, please let it be her. Let her be OK. But as she said the prayer, her common sense overcame her hope. If it had been Serena, she would have identified herself.

  A woman’s gravelly voice answered on the third ring, “Hello?”

  “I’m Cali Stevens. I got a message…”

  “Where are you?” The voice sounded deep for a woman, and unusually raspy.

  “Who is this?”

  “I’m the first victim.”

  Cali stopped breathing. Seconds ticked by before she found her voice. “What’s your name?”

  “Nancy.” She sucked in a breath and blew it out, sounding as if she were taking a drag on a cigarette.

  “Why did you call me?”

  The woman sn
orted. “I thought you might like to know what kind of twisted jerk has your friend held captive. But if you don’t…”

  “No, wait! Don’t hang up. What can you tell me?”

  “Not a whole lot. But nothing over the phone. I’ll tell you what I can in person.”