"Cassandra, this is ridiculous."
"Try the powder; then tell me it doesn't work."
"Fine." I stuffed the bag into another pocket. "Thanks."
"That's what I'm here for."
"I'll - uh - be staying at the Ruelle place from now on."
She lifted her brows. "How did you manage that?"
"My boss." I shrugged. "You know where I can get some camping equipment?"
There were a few things I didn't have - like mosquito netting. It had been a while since I'd gone anywhere this tropical.
Cassandra gave me an address. I wrote out my cell phone number. "In case you need me."
Although what she'd need me for, I had no idea. Still she smiled as if I'd just given her a gift beyond rubies and walked me to the door.
"You aren't going to be there alone?" she asked.
"Probably not," I muttered, and headed for the hotel.
I checked out, got directions to the address Cassandra had given me, charged what I needed, and drove to the mansion. On the porch sat my camping equipment I don't know how Frank had gotten the stuff here that fast, and I didn't care. He was the greatest.
As soon as I'd unloaded, a sudden compulsion to do something proactive made me head into the swamp. If I was going to take a look around, I wanted to do it in the daytime.
I found the location of last night's "incident" without too much trouble. Yellow crime scene tape stands out pretty well amid the swaying grass and cypress trees. I resisted the urge to tear it down. Behavior like that could earn me a few days in a cell.
I spent far too long in the swamp. The place was both wild and tranquil, steamy with heat, yet filled with cool water. I saw birds I'd never seen before, plants, trees, flowers, fish. I was captivated, entranced, mesmerized, which was the only reason I didn't notice the sun falling down.
I discovered a field of fire irises and used the pocketknife I'd just purchased to saw through a few stalks. As
I gathered them into my arms, something caught my eye.
Thinking I'd see the tip of a tail once again disappearing into the swamp, I gaped at the shape of a man in the shad-ows of a cypress tree.
I knew that silhouette - the broad shoulders, the slim waist, the tousled hair.
"Adam?"
I blinked and he was gone.
Which was impossible. Nobody could move that fast
I tightened my fingers on the knife, then hurried to the tree and walked around the huge trunk. There was nothing, no one, yet still I felt... something, and it wasn't friendly.
I stared upward, cringing at the idea of a man dropping from the tree and landing on me. Ail I saw was branches and moss; nevertheless, I cursed. Dusk hovered on the horizon.
With one last wary glance at the swamp, I folded the knife and put it in my pocket, then clasped the irises close to my chest and headed for home at a near run. Along with the thunder of my own frantic feet - now encased in unfashionable but practical hiking boots - I could have sworn I heard footsteps behind me.
I was officially paranoid.
As I burst out of the foliage and into the yard, the house seemed to stare back at me with a smirk. Not only was I paranoid but a little crazy also.
I ran inside and slammed the door, locking it behind me. No wonder the house seemed to be laughing. What good would a locked door do me when all the windows were broken? Why on earth was I out here without a gun?
From what I'd gathered on the Internet, it wasn't hard to buy one. No waiting period, no registration, no background check. God, I loved the South. First chance I had, ; I was using some of Frank's money on a pistol.
A thud from the second floor had my heart racing as fast as my feet had. I should have stayed in the city, but then I'd never find out anything. With a sense of deja vu, I turned toward the steps.
Adam Ruelle stood at the bottom, holding the lantern I'd bought, wearing the usual frayed khakis. This time a white tank top covered his chest, the lack of sleeves only emphasizing the ropy muscles of his arms.
Confused, I glanced out the window, toward the swamp, where I could have sworn I'd seen him not more than fifteen minutes ago. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you de same thing." He set the lantern next to my backpack, sleeping bag, and portable stove. "This is my house."
"Not while I'm renting the place."
He frowned. "You rented it?"
"My employer did. I need to be close to the area where the - "I broke off.
He didn't seem to notice, staring at the flowers I clutched to my chest. "You shouldn't have brought those."
I lowered my arms, stared at the crushed blooms. "Why?"
"They attract - " He yanked them out of my hands. "Animals."
Before I could say anything, do anything, he opened the front door, walked to the dock, and tossed the fire irises as far away as he could before striding back inside.
"You're kidding," I murmured.
"I don't kid."
I wasn't surprised. The man hadn't cracked a smile since I'd met him.
"Someone left one on my bed at the hotel."
Had that someone been him? If so, why leave the flower then and take them away from me now? I was so confused.
Adam appeared deep in thought, more worried about the fire iris on my bed than I had been. Which couldn't be good.
"I was told those flowers were bad luck," I said. "I figured someone didn't much care for me."
His eyes flicked to mine, the bright blue a beacon in the hazy light from the lantern. "Who you think it was?"
"No idea I'd just gotten into town at the time. How could I have pissed off anyone that fast?"
"It's a gift," he muttered.
"Thanks."
I plucked a stray red petal off my shirt and rubbed it between my thumb and forefinger. A spicy aroma arose, like cinnamon atop a bonfire. I could understand why an animal might be attracted to them. I was.
"At least I'm not nuts," I murmured.
"No?"
I narrowed my gaze. "I could have sworn someone was following me just now. But maybe it was... something."
He scowled. "What did you see?"
"Well, I thought I saw you, but that must have been a trick of the light You were here. Right?"
"Right," he agreed, though he didn't sound convinced. Which was as bizarre as my seeing him in the first place. Didn't he know where he'd been?
"The police think you're dead."
"They aren't the only ones."
"You like being a ghost?"
A long moment passed, the silence broken only by a faint splash from the swamp. He went to the window and ' his whisper came out of the darkness. "I don't mind."
He seemed so sad, so alone. I'd been there, hell, I still was, and while sometimes I liked it, more and more lately I didn't.