Dani Sinclair - Best-Kept Secrets стр 2.

I know a skull when I see one, Will growled. Even a tiny one like that.

Tiny?

Will sized it in the air with his hands. Theres another one. Bigger. You wanna go look?

Hell, no. He tipped back his hard hat and scratched at his thinning hair. It could be an animal, he said hopefully.

Will didnt dignify that with an answer.

You just better be sure, is all, Zeke said.

Im sure.

The two men resumed staring into the deep hole.

Whats going on here?

They whirled, Zeke nearly falling into the opening at the sound of their current employers deep voice. Jake Collins, owner of the restaurant whose parking lot theyd been hired to fix, stood staring at them, his dark eyes watching intently. He was rumored to be a gambler with Mafia connections. No one seemed to know if it was true or not, and no one had the guts to ask him. But he sure looked the part.

Everyone in Fools Point was a little afraid of Jake Collins.

Buddy says you found two bodies, Jake said quietly.

The foreman nodded his balding head. Its true, Mr. Collins. Down there. Reason the parking lot collapsed is someone built it over an old root cellar or something. Bodies are at the bottom.

Whose bodies?

Zeke looked at Will who swallowed before shaking his head. He hoped the only thing shaking was his head beneath that penetrating gaze.

One of ems a baby, Will told him.

A baby? Jakes voice deepened a full octave.

Yes, sir. Real tiny, the bones are.

Bones?

Yeah. Theyve been down there an awful long time.

Jake Collins didnt say another word. He simply grabbed the ladder, swung his neatly pressed trouser leg over the edge of the hole, and disappeared from view.

Hes gonna get them fancy duds all dirty down there, the foreman muttered.

Yeah, Will agreed.

Minutes later Jake reappeared. His face, as always, was an impenetrable mask. Dont move anything. Dont touch anything. Dont let anyone except Chief Hepplewhite or Officer Garvey down there. He started to walk away.

Yes, sir. Uh, Mr. Collins, what are we going to do about the pit?

Jake paused to pin them with a haughty stare. Wait for the cops to finish their investigation. Then fill the thing in permanently with that load of gravel. He continued across the parking lot, not even bothering to brush the dirt from his tan slacks.

That guy gives me the creeps, Buddy said suddenly.

Yeah. Zekes gaze drifted back to the hole in the ground. Who do you suppose dumped a helpless little baby and its mother in a root cellar?

Chapter One

Her mother nodded, folding the last towel and placing it in the basket. Rumor has it that hes Mafia connected, you know.

Amy Thomas shook her head even as her heart continued to pound. Jake Collins wasnt Mafia. He was the father of her daughter. But her mother didnt know that. No one knew that

except her. What was he doing here, in Fools Point of all places? And running a bar and restaurant?

That wasnt the gung-ho navy lieutenant shed known. Maybe this was a different Jake Collins and not her Jake Collinsnot that hed ever been hers except in the physical sense, and then only as a summer fling. Amys gaze darted to where her daughter played on the floor with her mothers pair of cats and a feather toy. Kelsey giggled at the animals and their antics.

Her daughter. Jake had simply been the physical fluke that had helped in the childs biological creation.

I dont believe that for a second, either, her mother went on, undisturbed by the cats, the child or her daughters silence. Hes just a very private sort of man, but you know how this town is. No secrets here, they simply arent tolerated. If he wont tell people about his past, theyll make up their own details. Look how they discuss the wife of Chief Hepplewhite. Poor woman. She just sits in that wheelchair day after day never saying a word and no one knows how she came to such a fate. The rumor is

Amy stopped her mother from lifting the basket of clothing or speculating any further on the lives of the residents of Fools Point. Ill take it, Mom, you shouldnt be carrying things.

Im not an invalid despite what your father thinks. I have a heart condition. Millions of people do, you know.

Ill still carry the basket.

Have it your way. Who am I to argue with free labor? Anyhow, you should see what Mr. Collins has done with the old Perry place. Who would have thought that old eyesore could have been turned into such a fabulous restaurant? Of course, your father hates to eat out so he only took me there once, and only because I insisted. Still, its beautiful inside. Mr. Collins did a fantastic job on the renovations. I dont think Gertrude would appreciate the changes, but then her mind is really starting to slip. I guess thats why the family sold the estate in the first place. Did you know Gertrudes niece, Cindy Lou, is the mayor now?

Jakes name had caught Amy unprepared. While her mother had been filling her in on the latest gossip since shed arrived in town yesterday, his name left her stunned.

I have an idea, Mom, Amy said, barely registering her mothers words. Why dont we get cleaned up and go over there for lunch?