Chapter Four
Strong, warm arms held her against a solid wall of muscles. Seems shed been here before. Jocelyne opened her eyes and stared up into dark brown eyes, hooded in the shadows of the overhead lights. Did I do it again?
Uh-huh. He pushed a strand of her hair away from her face. Youre not such a good advertisement for a holistic healer.
Shut up. She pushed away from him and attempted to stand. Her knees refused to hold her weight and she fell back into Andreis lap. Despite the coolness of the basements musty interior, her cheeks heated. My blood sugar must be low. Only a healthy breakfast and maybe some dry toast would make her better.
He set her to the side on the cool stone flooring and rose to his feet, extending a hand to her. How many months along are you?
In one swift tug, he had her up on her feet.
The rush of air in her face and blood to her legs made her stagger and fall against his chest. What business is it of yours?
A man kinda likes to know a few details when the woman with him faints into his arms. Twice.
Jocelyne pushed away from him and smoothed a hand over the baby growing inside. Six months. Im six months along.
And the father?
Dead.
Im sorry. And the bad thing was that he really did look sorry. The grow lights cast a reflection in his dark eyes, turning them to glowing ink.
Me, too. Shed just discovered she was pregnant the day before hed been killed in a subway accident. Theyd only been engaged for one night. Before she found out she was pregnant, shed been considering moving out because the spark wasnt there anymore for her. Had there ever really been a spark, or had she settled for companionship over coming home to an empty room?
Jocelyne? Andrei bent and peered into her face. Are you sure youre all right?
She pushed a stray hair out of her face, sweeping aside six-month-old memories with the wave of her hand. Yes, yes. Im all right.
His eyes narrowed as if he didnt believe her, but he straightened and stared back toward the corner lit by the grow lamps. Unless you know of another local source of that plant, Id venture to guess that someone has been harvesting from this garden to drug the victims.
Jocelyne stared at the lighted corner, uncontrollable cold overwhelming her body, almost as if a hideous creature lurked in the dark corners poised to crawl out after unsuspecting young women. She used to play hide-and-seek down here. Now all she could think of was the monster who could have been sneaking in to steal her mothers herbs. A shiver shook her so hard, her teeth rattled. You dont think my mothers capable of murder, do you?
Andrei shook his head. The victims were all strangled. It takes a lot of strength to strangle someone and then load them into a boat.
My mother is strong. She didnt know why she was giving him reasons to suspect her mother. The townsfolk already thought Hazel was a nutcase. Had she crossed the line of mild mannered to murderer?
But she probably doesnt have the strength it takes to lift a body. No, shes not the killer, although it doesnt take a lot of strength to be an accomplice.
As much as my mother loves this town, I cant see her hurting anyone in it. If she is an accomplice to murder, she probably doesnt know it.
Based on our brief acquaintance, I dont think your mother has it in her to hurt others.
He strode the full length of the basement level, studying the steps and the small windows positioned high on the walls that were on ground level from the outside. Very little light leached in through the dirty panes, casting a hazy glow two to three feet out from the glass. Is there any other way in or out of here, besides the steps coming down from the kitchen?
No. Jocelyne followed Andrei, her head reeling with the possibilities. As big as the basement is, it only has the one set of steps down into it.
I dont think a grown man could crawl in and out of the windows, but Ill have a look at them from the outside.
So, you think someone has been sneaking down here stealing my mothers herbs? She leaned on a sturdy wood floor joist attempting a casual pose, when all she really needed was something to hold her up from the bombardment of frightening thoughts bearing down on her. Who?
Good question. Does your mother lock the basement door? Andrei stood with his back to the steps leading up to the kitchen.
Only at night. Its left open during the day. We keep extra supplies and spices down here. She pointed to a shelf near the staircase stacked neatly with linens, pantry staples and bins of potatoes, carrots and onions. Anyone could come down here.
Andrei scanned the contents briefly before his glance shifted back to the staircase. Well need to make a list of people who frequent the inn.
Besides the tourists, there are quite a few Ravens Cliff residents who come here on a regular basis, not to mention the boarders who live here at the inn. She reached around him for a pad of paper kept on the shelf. Caught up in trying to remember every person who could have come down these steps, she didnt realize how close shed come to the cop. As her hand closed around the pad, her breast bumped into the mans rock-solid chest, sending what could only be described as an electric jolt through her system.
Startled by her reaction, Jocelyne jumped back, the pad clattering to the floor. Im sorry. Ill just She bent to retrieve the pad, her cheeks burning, but Andreis hand was there first and she touched the back of his long, sturdy fingers. Another shock raced through her hand up into her arm and she lurched backward into a stack of baskets, sending them toppling over onto the stone floor. When her foot hooked a basket handle she pitched forward, landing hard against the person shed been struggling to get away from.
Andrei caught her, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. Are you always this nervous around men?
No. Not men. Just you. What was it about Andrei Lagios that had her flustered so badly she was either fighting mad, passing out or panting? Whatever it was, it had to stop. She wasnt interested in this or any man for that matter. Heck, she was six months pregnant and probably looked like shed swallowed a basketball. What man would be attracted to that?
Jocelyne squared her shoulders and stepped free of Andreis hands. Ill make that list for you. Upstairs.
When she emerged from the darkened staircase into the well-lit kitchen, she inhaled the fresh, reassuring scent of biscuits, cleansing her senses of the cobwebs of the basement and the confusion of stumbling into the cop. For several long moments she stood breathing in and out until she had her body and mind calm and in control.
A strong hand on her arm sent all her control flying out the window. You need to eat something before you pass out again.
I will, just as soon as I jot down the names of the people I can remember.
Tell you what. He led her to the table and urged her into a chair. You sit. Ill get you a plate of food while you write that list. Then you can tell me all about it while you eat.
Before she could protest, the door swung closed behind the infuriating man.
Jocelyne could take care of herself. She didnt need a man waiting on her or treating her like she was fragile or unable to fend for herself. She was an expectant mother and soon would have a baby to look after. Shed darn well better get tough to take care of her child. Pulling her thoughts out of the dining room, where Andrei gathered food, she set a pen to the paper and wrote.