Cold feet(60)
Author: Brenda Novak

Caleb glanced at Madison, obviously eager to finish their conversation. But Holly demanded his attention. "Caleb?"

His eyebrows lowered into a dark line as she drew closer, but he turned to Madison. "Let me take care of whatever she wants, then I’ll come over later and we’ll talk some more, okay?"

Madison held up her hand, palm out. Some of her anger had dissipated. But something else was quickly replacing it–a sort of dull acceptance, a sense of inevitability. Had she really thought she’d found her prince at last? That she’d do any better the second time around? "Caleb, maybe–in your mind–you had good reason for using me," she said. "I think I can even understand it. But I just want to be left alone, okay?"

"Madison–"

"Good night," she said softly, and closed the door. Then she sagged against the wall and slid all the way to the floor. She had to take a hard line with Caleb. Softening would only get her hurt–again.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING talking to Purcell’s daughter this time of night?" Holly asked, scowling at Madison’s closed door.

Caleb zipped up his windbreaker, wondering whether to knock again or give Madison time to cool off.

"Caleb?"

His muscles felt so taut he could barely move. "We had some business to take care of," he said.

"What kind of business? What was that about you using her?"

He didn’t answer. Because of Holly’s presence, he decided to give Madison the night to herself, and stepped off the porch. Maybe after she’d had a chance to rest and–

"It’s nearly eleven." Holly’s voice broke into his thoughts again. "What were you doing at her house at this time of night? Don’t tell me you needed her to come over and fix a leaky faucet."

The bigger question, to Caleb, was what Holly thought she was doing appearing at his house so late. "I can handle my own leaky faucets," he grumbled. But he wasn’t sure he could handle Madison cutting him out of her life.

He cast Holly a quick glance. "What do you want?"

She stiffened, obviously offended by his curt tone. "Is that any way to greet me?"

Caleb felt his jaw tighten and reminded himself that Holly’s sister had just been murdered. He wanted to be sensitive to her loss. But she was using the investigation to call him day and night, usually for no good reason. What are you doing? Where are you going? Can you stop by? Surely there had to be someone else she could lean on. He was her ex-husband, for crying out loud. What about her parents? Her friends?

"It’s the middle of the night, Holly," he said. "I wasn’t expecting you." And you interrupted at a really bad time.

"But I’ve been trying and trying to reach you."

He’d turned off his cell phone because he hadn’t wanted to hear from her.

She had to hurry to keep up with him as he trudged over to the cottage. "Are you going to tell me what you need?" he asked, and he’d insist on a good answer this time. He’d had it with, "I couldn’t sleep," and "I miss you." He’d made it perfectly clear that their relationship was over.

She didn’t answer right away, so he arched a brow to let her know he was waiting. "You’re acting like you don’t want me here," she said, pouting.

Her tone was accusatory enough to make him believe she was about to start an argument, and Caleb felt his control slipping. "Holly, I’m not capable of walking on eggshells tonight. If you have something to say, say it. But it had better be good. I’m not in the mood to–" he was about to say, "put up with you," but in deference to what had happened to Susan, he caught himself "–pry it out of you."

"What’s bothering you?" She grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop only a few steps from his front door.

He couldn’t help looking back at Madison’s house, to see that the shutters were tightly closed. Holly wanted to know what was bothering him? Losing Madison bothered him, even more than he’d thought it would.

Holly followed his gaze. "Wait a minute. Don’t tell me there’s something going on between you and…and Purcell’s daughter. Are you sleeping with her?"

Caleb tensed at Holly’s proprietary tone. "You act as though you have a right to ask me that, Hol."

"I do! You came here to help me. You’re supposed to be searching for Susan’s killer, not…not climbing into bed with Ellis Purcell’s daughter!"

A muscle began to tick in Caleb’s cheek. "Holly, don’t push me, okay?" He jerked out of her grasp. "Now, I’m really tired. If you don’t mind, I’m going inside to get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow."

He started to move beyond her, but she reached for his jacket. "Wait…Caleb, don’t be angry. I only came here tonight because Detective Gibbons called my place, looking for you."

He’d opened his door, but this succeeded in gaining his attention. "Why?" he asked, rounding on her.

"They’ve found Susan’s car."

Caleb’s jaw dropped. "Where?"

"Parked only a few blocks from Lance’s place. Can you believe it? I think Lance has been lying the whole time. I think he killed Susan because she found out about his fiancee and threatened to tell her about their affair."

"Holly, Lance isn’t even a plausible suspect. Our killer knows too much, which means he has to be someone closer to the case. Remember the Ford truck outside the pizzeria?"

"That could’ve been a coincidence."

"The way Susan’s body was positioned was no coincidence. And if Lance did kill her, he’d have to be an idiot to park Susan’s car so close to his house. But come in," he said, holding the door. "I’ll give Gibbons a call. I want to see that car."

She didn’t move right away. "You’ve changed, you know that?"

"Are you coming in?" he asked, refusing to spar with her.

Grudgingly, she stepped past him. "I think I was wrong about you. I don’t think you’re going to find this killer. He’s much too smart."

MADISON COULDN’T SLEEP. She stared at the ceiling, tossed and turned, took a hot bath and went back to bed. But Caleb’s face still lingered in her mind, and her heart threatened to break. They hadn’t known each other long, but when they’d made love she’d felt like she was part of him. And tonight, when she’d met his family, it had seemed as though she belonged….

How could she have been so wrong?

Eventually, she gave up trying to drift off on her own and took two sleeping pills. She didn’t have Brianna to worry about tonight. And, judging by the snoring in the next room, Johnny was so deeply asleep she doubted he’d wake before noon.

The medication was just starting to take effect when the doorbell rang. She heard it as a faint echo in the distance and eyed the digital clock near her bed. Two o’clock.