Whispering Springs

“Through an unlocked patio door.”

“The alarm wasn’t tripped?”

“They live in a gated community with round-the-clock security guards, so they weren’t in the habit of setting the system.”

“That’s convenient. What can you tell me about Tony Redding’s firm?”

“I’ve already told you too much.”

She waved off his concern. “I can always do an internet search, but it’ll be a lot easier and faster if you just tell me. It’s not a secret, is it?”

“You haven’t changed a bit,” he said.

“Oh, I have. Believe me, I have. But we’re talking about Tony Redding.”

“He’s the cofounder and CEO of Redding Technologies. They develop apps for the military. Everything from navigation to beacons to handbooks and probably a whole lot more that they don’t advertise. It’s a competitive field, and from what I gather, they devour start-ups for breakfast.”

“He’s made enemies, then.”

“I think that’s safe to say.”

Ava turned once more to stare out the window as she pondered his revelations. He was irritated with himself for succumbing so easily to her interrogation, but he’d told her nothing she couldn’t have found out on her own. The trick now was to keep her at arm’s length from the case. That wouldn’t be easy. She’d always been single-minded to a fault. With her intellect and ambition, she’d been a force of nature even in college. He’d meant it earlier when he said she hadn’t changed. If anything, she was even more driven.

He studied her profile now as memories assailed him. He’d known her for years, but their time as a couple had been brief and mostly clandestine. Her choice. She’d thought it best to keep their feelings secret until Lily had had time to process the breakup and move on. Looking back now, Dylan realized that had been a mistake. They’d done nothing wrong, but keeping their relationship from the others made it seem as if they had. They’d both learned the hard way that trust built on a foundation of secrets and lies could too easily crumble away.

Still, he’d never been able to forget her even in the fog of war. He’d spent many a sleepless night looking up at the stars in a desert sky and longing for the familiarity of her touch, her smile. The feel of her body against his. For a while, it was all that had kept him going. Eventually he’d put all those memories aside, buried them in the deepest recesses of his mind while he’d concentrated on the task at hand. On surviving. When he finally came home, he’d had too many other things to think about. Too many monsters to vanquish.

But now here she was, mere inches from his arms.

He skimmed her hungrily, admiring the way her sweater and slacks molded to her soft curves. She wore heels and the subtlest of perfumes, something woodsy and exotic, and he thought, damn. How could he have forgotten Ava North even for a moment?

“Did you hear what I said?” she demanded.

“What?”

“You’re a million miles away,” she accused.

“Nope. Right here with you.” He tried to shake off his bewitchment. “You said something’s not right.”

“Okay, so you were listening.” She rested her hand on a chair back. “I don’t know how to explain it, but earlier I had the strangest feeling while we were in that room with Blair. She was obviously distressed and she said all the appropriate things, but something was off. Something wasn’t right. Am I crazy?”

“You’re not crazy.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at him. “You felt it, too?”

“You’re not crazy.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. I’ve been standing here thinking back to our college days.”

A dangerous journey, Dylan knew only too well. “In general or something specific?”

“Both. Tony Redding was never really part of our group, but he was around a lot because of Blair. He seemed like a good guy on the surface, but for some reason, I could never warm up to him. I always had a feeling there was a lot more going on inside that he didn’t want anyone to see.”

Dylan gave her an ironic smile. “You used to say the same thing about me.”

She trailed a finger across the back of the chair. “That was different.”

“How?”

“It just was. Tony’s ambiguity seemed nefarious. Like he had something to hide. He was charming and solicitous until he reeled Blair in, and then he changed. She did, too. Don’t you remember what she was like before he came along? So happy and outgoing. Once Tony entered the picture, she faded somehow. It was like she disappeared into his shadow.”

“Are you sure you aren’t relying too much on your recall? College was a long time ago,” Dylan said. “A lot’s happened since then.”

“Maybe I am. Maybe my uneasiness comes from being back in this place. Seeing Blair again. Seeing you again.” She broke off, biting her lip as if she’d let something slip, revealing her own uncertainty. Almost against her will, her voice softened and she grew reminiscent. “Do you remember slipping down to the springs the last time we were here? It was a hot night, but the water was cool and so crystal clear, you could see moonlight glinting off the silt and limestone bottom. We floated on our backs for the longest time, just gazing up at the stars.”

“I remember everything.” The taste of her, the scent of her, their forbidden promises.

She dropped her gaze to the floor as if she were thinking the same thing. “Anyway, Blair always had to work so hard for Tony’s attention. He seemed to put everything and everyone before her, as if she were an afterthought. I remember once she tried to plan a trip to South Padre for spring break. She made all the arrangements, and then Tony told her at the last minute that he wanted to go skiing with his buddies. She never let on how upset she was. She just smiled and shrugged off her disappointment. Then the night before he was scheduled to leave, she was mugged on her way home from the library. The assailant knocked her to the ground, put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she screamed. He grabbed her purse and ran off. By the time any of us heard about the incident, Tony had canceled his trip to be with her. The two of them ended up going to Cancun alone.”

“I remember when she was mugged,” Dylan said. “But I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”

“She was very upset, and she seemed skittish for a long time after the attack. But here’s the thing. I was with her at the library that night and I remember distinctly her red leather handbag. It was very expensive and she’d coveted it for a long time before her mother finally broke down and bought it for her. A few months after the incident, Blair offered to loan me a dress for a formal event. I saw that same handbag in her closet.”

“Maybe her mother bought a replacement.”

“That’s possible.”

“Or maybe the police found her bag and returned it.”

“Also possible.”

“But you don’t think so. Did you ask her about it?”

“No.” Ava made a helpless gesture with her hand. “Maybe I didn’t really want to know. But I had the same feeling that day in her apartment that I had earlier in her suite. Something was off. Maybe I was wrong then and maybe I’m wrong now. But, Dylan...”

“Yes?”

“Be careful, okay? My instincts are pretty good these days.”

“You think I’m being played?”

“Just...be careful.”

“I will.”

She nodded, absently running a hand up and down her arm as if suddenly chilled. “I should get back downstairs. The others are probably waiting.” But she made no move to the door.

“Something else on your mind?”