The Inn At Shadow Lake

THREE

“Have you stayed in contact with anyone from college?” Zach cut into another delicious piece of porterhouse steak. He wasn’t willing to answer any of Julie’s questions. Not yet. He enjoyed watching her struggle to get the truth out of him. Dessert wasn’t far off and he hadn’t told her a thing.

He forgot how much fun he had teasing her. Zach almost laughed aloud at her predicament. Only the seriousness of his assignment prevented it. He had to gather more information.

“I don’t know if you remember Tiffany Saccaro, my roommate from college?” Julie asked.

“Sure.” Zach gave a quick laugh. “Every guy probably remembers her. We all camped out at Olympic National Park.”

“Oh, stop that.” Julie straightened the dark green linen napkin in her lap and took a sip of water. She lifted her gaze to meet his. “Tiff and I are still good friends. She lives down in Seattle. We get together a few times a year.”

“Oh? How’s she doing? Still dating?”

“No.” Julie laughed lightly. “Tiff’s been happily married for seven years. She and her husband, Ken, adore each other. They have two kids, with another due in about a month.”

“Really?”

“Really.” She gently placed her glass on the table. “Zach Marshall, you have procrastinated long enough.” Resting her elbows on the white linen tablecloth, she clasped her hands together. “You know all about me. Now it’s your turn.” She lifted her chin.

This time Zach did laugh. He held up a hand in surrender. “Okay, okay. On one condition.” Leaning closer across the table, he took her hand in his and fought the temptation to bring her fingers to his lips. If he rushed things, she might get suspicious. “I’m planning a drive down the coast to Ruby Beach tomorrow. Come with me. I’ll tell you what you want to know then.”

He slowly rubbed her palm with the pad of his thumb. She always liked it when he touched her like this. His mind filled with memories of other touches. Groaning inwardly, he forced his wayward thoughts back to the investigation.

Julie wouldn’t be able to get a sitter for the whole day tomorrow, especially with her parents watching Emmie tonight. She’d never agree to go with him. She’d always hated adventures. He would use the time alone to scout out the area where the groundskeeper’s body had been found. “You’ll never know where we may end up. Oregon. California.” He flashed a slow smile of victory.

Her clear blue eyes sparkled in the flickering candlelight. “I’ll go around the loop with you tomorrow…if you answer all my questions.”

“Hey, I never said I’d answer all your questions.” He leaned back in his chair. She’d surprised him. “What about your daughter?” She wasn’t thinking of bringing her along, was she?

Memories of his own little girl hit with a staggering assault. How many agonizing nights had he spent going over all the scenarios that might have prevented her death and the death of his wife?

The paramedics told him that Lisa had died instantly. His sweet daughter, Ashley, still in the car seat, had been thrown from the vehicle. She was gone by the time the ambulance arrived.

Releasing Julie’s hand, Zach sucked in a quick breath. Would he ever get over the guilt he felt for not being there when they needed him the most? Or understand how God could let them die so tragically? He was the one who should’ve been gone by now, considering the line of work he’d chosen. Not them.

“Every so often my parents take Emmie for an overnight trip to Seattle. This is one of those weekends. Dad made the hotel reservations for tomorrow’s outing months ago. They’ll even take Emmie to Sunday school when they go to church on Sunday. I’m free as a bird.” Her playful gaze met his and she smiled.

More beautiful than ever, Julie’s long, blond hair cascaded to just below her shoulders. Mediterranean-blue eyes lit with a warm glow from somewhere deep inside.

Their past relationship would come in handy. He hated to use her, but he had no choice. He couldn’t allow old emotions to get in the way of his job.

His instincts were usually right, but with Julie as a major suspect, could he trust the gut intuition he had honed over the past few years?

“Free as a bird, huh?” His life and the lives of other agents depended on his skills. He wouldn’t let them down. “Okay, we’ll make a day of it. Everything’s on me tomorrow. We’ll leave early, about six.”

“Six! In the morning?” She laughed lightly.

“Sure. We’ll stop somewhere for a picnic.” His gaze met hers and for a moment, Julie’s blue eyes softened.

Did she remember their last picnic up on Hurricane Ridge?

Zach’s eyes searched hers. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and avoided his gaze. He always could read the expressions on her face. He gave a slow grin.

She remembered, all right.

How could she forget the magic of that one night they had spent together with friends at Olympic National Park? The fun evening they’d shared had been more than memorable. Much more. Zach wondered if he could find that secluded spot in the park again after all these years.

Knock it off, Marshall.

No more dwelling in the past. What he needed was hope for the future. He’d let the real Zach slip away as he pursued his career with the Bureau. Hard work had been a lifesaver from drowning in the pain and guilt he felt.

Once he solved this case, if he lived through it, he would spend more time at home. That meant Montana. A life back on the ranch was what he really wanted. He’d known that for the past couple of years. That was why he’d built the huge log house on the ten thousand acre spread. His folks had sold him the property he wanted so he could start a new life. Someday.

Zach straightened in his chair. He’d only spent a month at home over the past year, and had hired a housekeeper to keep things in order. He’d probably live out the rest of his life alone in that big empty house.

That was fine with him. A family was the last thing he wanted. Or needed. What he needed was to end this terrorist investigation. There was no room for faith or a family in those plans.

“Come on, Julie,” he coaxed, giving her his best smile. “What do you say?”

“Well, okay. Just don’t forget your promise. You’ll tell me what you’ve been doing all this time.”

“Right.” In reality, she’d be the one spilling her guts. “Pack an overnight bag just in case. You never know what the weather will be like up there this time of year. If there are heavy rains, we might have to spend the night.”

“Oh, Zach, I—I don’t know—”

“It might take a while to tell you everything.” He raised an eyebrow. Would she take the bait?

She sighed in determined resignation. “I’ll be ready.”

“Good. It’ll be an adventure.” Zach grinned and leaned forward in his seat.

“A little trip to the park is all I’m interested in. Just a relaxing little drive and finding out about your life for the past eight years. No adventures.” She laughed lightly and sampled a small mouthful of the chocolate mousse the waiter had just brought to their table. “Mmm. This is so good.”

“That was one of the finest meals I’ve ever had,” Zach agreed. “Your chef is great.” He chuckled lightly, enjoying a sip of coffee before leaning back comfortably in his chair. “You mentioned he was new?”

“Yes. I just hired him.” Julie took another small mouthful of the chocolate dessert. “After a meal like this, I think it’s safe to say I chose the right man for the job.”

“You can say that again.” If Julie only knew how right she was. Agent Castlerock had expressed an interest in gourmet foods, but a chef? That was, obviously, the new circumstance John had mentioned on the phone. The Senior Agent in Charge had established his cover as master chef at the inn. Good. It made sense. But he wanted answers, no more surprises from the SAC.

Zach took in the welcoming sight of Julie sitting across from him. Could she really be the missing link in this case? The evidence connected her directly to one of America’s most wanted terrorists. He’d seen with his own eyes the incriminating surveillance photos of Julie with prime suspect Viktor Ivanov. How intimately did Julie know him? Inwardly he cursed.

Time to make a move. “How about going for a walk around the lake?”

“Sure, it’s on my way home.” Julie smiled. “I have a little cottage overlooking the water.”

I know. Zach knew more about Julie than she could ever imagine. But the information he’d received from the Bureau had nothing to do with her as a woman.

That’s what really interested him.

For the investigation, of course.

Would she moan softly, like she used to…when he kissed her again?

The reflection of the moon lit the lake with an eerie, iridescent glow. Shadows from innumerable, two-hundred-foot-tall evergreen trees cast a disturbing darkness along the misty perimeter of the lake. Julie shook off the sudden chill that crept along her spine. The recent murder was making her imagination work overtime. She had never feared the lakeside before.

“How long have you owned this place?” Zach bent to pick up a pebble along the rain-soaked, gray slate path. Tossing the small stone into the lake, he watched it bounce several times, sending wave after wave of ripples across the water’s smooth surface.

“When we first bought the inn, we lived in the main building.” She glanced at the everlasting display of tall trees standing regally across the large lake. Julie loved the lush green scenery, the dampness of the earth, the way the air filled with the pleasant scent of cedar. “About a year later, we decided to move into one of the inn’s private homes.” She lifted her gaze to meet his. “I’ve lived here for about six years, I guess.” It didn’t seem possible it had been that long. At a bend in the path, the house came into view. “There it is.” Her cottage home reminded him of a popular artist’s painting. Cozy and simple. Warm and inviting.

“Your lights are on,” Zach observed.

“I had timers installed so when I got home, the place wouldn’t be in total darkness.” But no one was there to greet her, lights or not.

“Do you always work late, Julie? Is it this dark every night when you walk home?” He turned to her, a hint of concern in his eyes.

“No, not always.” It had been a long time since a man had been concerned about her well-being. The knowledge that someone cared touched her. But there was Nick, of course. He’d helped her out several times with repairs on the inn. “There’s nothing to worry about out here in the country…even in the dark,” she said, lowering her gaze and thinking about the brutal killing of the dear old man.

Julie couldn’t bring herself to discuss the unsolved murder of the employee who had taken such good care of the grounds around the lodge the past five years. The sadness she carried over his untimely and gruesome death remained buried deep inside and she found it impossible to discuss without breaking into tears. It had only been a couple of weeks since his body had been discovered.

There was so much grief in the world, in her life. Now an innocent man, a friend, was dead. The overwhelming mourning she felt threatened to creep up to the surface. She sighed and cleared her mind. Alone in her house at night, she could let herself give in to sorrow. But never in front of anyone. She had to be strong for everyone at the inn and especially for Emmie.

Before she realized it, they were at her front door. Zach’s ruggedly handsome features, illuminated by the soft glow of the light from her front porch, caused Julie’s heart to skip a beat. She drew in a quick breath. She was starting to remember the depth of the feelings she felt for Zach. She couldn’t allow that to happen. She retrieved the key from her coat pocket. It didn’t make sense that her hands trembled at the thought of asking Zach inside. What was wrong with her?

“Let me get that.” Zach gently took the key from her hand and unlocked the door. He opened it and moved over to allow her to enter ahead of him.

“Come on in. I’ll give you a quick tour.” She smiled and shook off thoughts of the murder. “It’ll take all of two minutes,” Julie teased even as warning bells sounded in her mind. It would be too easy to move into Zach’s comforting embrace.

“Sure.” Zach followed her in and shut the door behind them. “Hmm…”

“What?” Julie asked, her gaze meeting his.

“It’s really nice. Bigger than I thought.”

“I know. It doesn’t look that way from the outside, does it?” She removed her jacket and placed it on the coatrack in the small foyer. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Zach shrugged off his black leather jacket and placed it alongside hers. “Lead the way.” He smiled a slow, lazy grin and in a split second Julie’s heartbeat tripled. Was he remembering the spark of electricity that had always been there between them? Did he feel the attraction that was there even now?

She cleared her throat. “Um, we’ll start with…the kitchen.”

Zach scanned what he could see of the first floor. The FBI photos didn’t do the place justice. Julie had decorated her kitchen in white with honey oak cabinets. Fresh tulips in different shades of yellow, pink and red filled a crystal vase on a round oak table.

A bay area for the table and four chairs faced the view of the inn through lacy white curtains. She had made this cottage into a happy place to live.

In spite of her loss.

Zach’s thoughts raced to his large, empty house in Montana. Would he ever find a woman who would bring him happiness and a home filled with warmth, as this one obviously was?

Face it, Marshall, you ’re not cut out to be a family man.

You never were.

“Zach?” Julie’s gentle voice broke into his thoughts.

“What were you saying?” He ran a hand through his hair and silently reminded himself why he was there.

After all he’d seen the past couple of years, Zach had become jaded, skeptical of anyone’s innocence. There was no future in his wayward impulse to kiss Julie and hold her in his arms again. He gazed into her eyes and fought to control the undeniable affection he felt for her. It was nothing more than old memories, he reasoned.

He wanted to kiss her for the deed’s sake and not for the coldhearted job he had to do. But if Julie’s kisses would get him to the bottom of the investigation, so be it. He’d take all she had to offer.

Maybe I should take myself off this case.

But there was no chance of that happening. Not now. He’d been involved in the assignment from the very beginning when he was called up as a special agent in the attack on New York and the Pentagon. He’d known all the details, including the fact that the woman they would be investigating was one he deeply loved long ago, when life was innocent and full of hope.

Zach’s heart told him that Julie was unaware of the goings-on from her lodge. His mind told him he needed facts to prove his instincts. Zach could not assume Julie was innocent. He had seen too much in his life to be that naive.

Someone had killed the inn’s groundskeeper, an ex-KGB agent trying to make a fresh start. His death had led the Bureau to Shadow Lake Inn. When was Julie planning to tell him about that? Why was she deliberately keeping the cold-blooded murder a secret, covering it up?

Julie turned to him. “I enjoyed having dinner with you tonight, Zach.” She sighed softly and smiled.

“Yeah, me, too. It’s…good to see you again, Julie,” he whispered, gently pulling her to him. His fingers automatically intertwined with hers. It was as if his body was reacting on autopilot. Zach’s heart filled with happy memories of the two of them together. She felt so right in his arms. It had been a long time since he held a woman this way—and too long since he’d held Julie.

His gaze rested on her moist, parted lips. He wanted to kiss her. He slowly pulled her closer. She felt so warm and soft. He rested his chin on her head. Against his better judgment, he drank in the clean fragrance of her long hair, letting its softness run through his fingers. He would kiss her during this assignment, no doubt about it, but not yet. It was all part of his job—getting close and then zeroing in for the takedown.

Swallowing a groan, he emotionally placed some distance between them, silently cursing the investigation and all it entailed. He could not let himself trust her. No matter what he felt. He needed to seize control of the intense physical and emotional reaction he had to her. Now, before he got lost in her arms, in her kisses.

Julie gently squeezed his hand. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the house.”

Taking his arm in hers, she walked him through a wide archway leading directly into the dining room. Antique mahogany furniture came into view as she flipped a wall switch allowing the crystal chandelier to light the room. Zach whistled. The deep dark tones and lines of the furniture were beautiful and classy. Elegant. It suited her.

Just as the photos had indicated, the furniture was expensive. The background check they did showed there was no way she could afford the cost, and there were no records of the purchase. Had she paid for everything in cash? Money earned by selling out her country? “This must have set you back a few bucks,” he managed, his voice more gruff than he intended.

“It was my grandmother’s. She left it to me when she passed away. The furniture and all the fine crystal and china she loved to use. I never could have afforded all this on my own.” She turned to him and smiled. Julie’s eyes filled with fondness as she spoke about her grandmother. “After all these years, I still miss her. She used to make me tea and honey.” Her gaze met and locked with his. “And homemade lemon cookies.”

How could this sweet woman be a spy?

Zach realized there was a lot he didn’t know about Julie. He vowed to change that, to solve the case, of course. He would verify the grandmother’s inheritance by morning.

“Are you bored yet?” Julie asked after she had shown him the family room. “We can stop anytime.” She laughed lightly.

“Upstairs, Jewels.” Zach smiled in spite of thoughts of her involvement in the grueling investigation. He wanted to know more about the home she had made for herself—before he locked her up in federal prison.

She led him up the stairway and Zach admired her slim, feminine body. He forced his gaze away in order to memorize every detail about her home that hadn’t shown up in the surveillance photos he’d studied. The fourth step creaked under his foot. He made a mental note of it. The information he gathered might prove useful in saving precious seconds that could save lives. Too many agents had already died or disappeared on this assignment.

“This is my room. I recently redecorated and bought new furniture.” Julie flipped another wall switch to light the room and walked inside. “I couldn’t resist a sale I found at a shop in Seattle. The furniture was just delivered a few days ago.”

The bed was new, all right. It hadn’t been in the photographs he’d seen. The rich dark wood of the four-poster bed contrasted with the pale green comforter and floral dust ruffle. Several matching overstuffed pillows leaned against the large hand-carved mahogany headboard.

Zach imagined Julie there, her blond hair draped across the pillows. He drew in a quick breath.

He’d never forgotten her. Even after all the years. Even though he’d married and fathered a child.

Zach cleared his throat and forced the unsettling thoughts from his mind. Glancing around the room, memorizing every detail, he noticed a thick pillar candle inside an attractive heavy glass holder. Arranged with green ivy trailing around its base, the candle arrangement complimented the dark wood of her night table. That was why the room held the light, pleasant scent of vanilla. Zach wondered why Julie felt the need for a fancy, scented candle. And such an intimate atmosphere.

Did she entertain up here?

He crossed to the huge bay window and brushed the lacy white curtains aside. Through the open blinds, he could see the distant lights in the windows of the lodge, even with the numerous tall trees on the property. He turned to face her. “Nice view.”

Nodding, she stood in the doorway and smiled. The pale pink Victorian lamp on the dresser gently lit her face. Zach’s heart filled with memories of the tender love they once shared. It felt unnatural not to pull her close and kiss her as he used to.

“It is a pretty view, isn’t it?” She crossed to where he stood at the window.

“That it is,” Zach whispered, his voice suddenly giving out.

Did she enjoy sleeping in such a huge bed alone?

Had any men slept there with her, held her close afterward? Julie had never been one to sleep around. Maybe she’d changed. Zach realized he would be disappointed if she had. He’d loved her innocence, her sweetness. Was she still the same woman he knew back then?

The Bureau expected him to use his past with Julie to bring closure to this international assignment. His mission was to stick close until she inadvertently led them to leaders of the terrorist group.

For the first time in his professional career, Zach wondered if he was in over his head. Because of his emotional involvement with Julie, was he in danger of losing his edge? If that were true, he was as good as dead.

“Come on, I’ll show you Emmie’s room,” Julie said, interrupting his thoughts. “It’s just across the hall.”

Emmie’s room.

Zach felt as if he’d been kicked in the gut. He should’ve thought of that possibility before now. Would he be able to face a little girl’s bedroom without feeling the heartache of what could have been? Drawing a deep breath, he raked a hand through his hair and swallowed hard. “I’m…right behind you.”

Julie flipped on the light switch and Emmie’s room came alive. No matter how hard Zach braced himself for the impact, a wave of painful emotions washed over him as he stood frozen in place.

He’d dealt with apprehending vicious criminals before with no problem. He’d worked through the horrors at Ground Zero, but all it took was the sight of a little girl’s bedroom to freeze him in his tracks.

An oak bed with a matching dresser and mirror filled the small room. Julie had decorated the twin bed with a pastel pink-and-white gingham comforter that matched the dust ruffle and canopy. A pink floral wallpaper border made its way across the top of the cream-colored walls. A vast array of stuffed animals lay peacefully arranged across the pillows.

Stuffed animals.

Zach recalled his daughter’s crib. Picturing it clearly in his mind, he could almost reach out and touch the cherrywood railings…and Ashley. Taking her little bed apart, saving some toys and giving away the rest, had been the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. No mission had ever compared to the heartache of that task. No mission ever could.

“I did Emmie’s room over, also.” Julie smiled up at him, a tender look in her eyes when she talked about her little girl. “I asked her to help me choose the fabric and furniture. I was surprised that she had so many opinions on the subject.” She laughed lightly. “This is what we agreed on.”

“It’s nice,” Zach managed. Surprised that his feet weren’t glued to the floor, he made his way over to a child-sized table under one of the windows. A small, crayon-filled wicker basket rested on a chair. Several of Emmie’s drawings lay scattered across the top. Zach stopped to touch one of them. It showed a house, several trees and an animal that appeared to be a horse, but maybe it was a dog. “I see Emmie likes to draw,” he said, turning to her.

Julie nodded. Love and obvious pride in her daughter reflected in her eyes. “She doesn’t usually give her pictures away. You must have made quite an impression.”

Forgetting his job for a brief moment, Zach’s heart filled with happiness for Julie. He was glad she had her little girl to love after the loss of her husband. “Has it been hard for you, raising her on your own?” He pulled out one of the little chairs. Sitting as best as he could on the tiny piece of furniture, he flipped through the rest of the drawings.

Julie sat on another small chair next to him. “Yes, at times it has been difficult, of course.” She sighed. “But my family has been so helpful. My mom and dad are always there, never in an overbearing way, but just when I needed them the most.” Taking a quick breath, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Tim…was twelve years older than me and had no family to speak of. He was an only child. His parents passed away before we met.”

Zach couldn’t bear to see her eyes filling with tears. He had to do something to lighten the moment. “What is this? A horse? A dog? A…dinosaur?” He smiled and tapped a finger on the animal in the drawing.

Julie laughed. “Oh, that.” She sighed. “That’s Emmie’s dream house, as she calls it.” Leaning closer Julie touched the image of the animal her daughter had drawn. “This…is a horse.” Her eyes lit in amusement. “You were right the first time.”

The pleasant, light floral fragrance she wore filled his senses. Zach resisted the powerful temptation to reach out and pull her into his arms. He wanted to comfort her, protect her. Tell her everything would be all right.

But how was a guy supposed to comfort a possible spy?

“A horse, huh? She hasn’t seen any real horses, has she?” Raising an eyebrow, he smiled.

“No, she hasn’t. Not yet. Maybe I should do something about that.” Julie’s gaze met his and she smiled.

“Yeah.” And maybe he should do something about the undeniable feelings he had to hold Julie close. Keep her safe from the evil forces surrounding her and the inn.

Clearing the all-too-vivid intimate scenario lingering in his mind, Zach leaned back in the tiny seat. “If you’re ever in Montana, I can show her plenty of horses. We breed them.”

“Oh! So you went back to the ranch you loved,” Julie said, smiling as if she’d won a prize.

Zach laughed. “Well, that’s part of the story. Happy now?”

“Not until I know the rest,” Julie teased.

How could he share his grief without the pain that always gripped his heart? Somehow, he would have to allow the anguish he’d been hiding to resurface in order to solve the case.

Yet here he was talking with Julie in her daughter’s room. Instead of sadness overcoming his soul, he was sitting at a little girl’s table, laughing. In place of the usual heaviness settling in his heart, there was a spark of joy.

Zach cleared his head. He had a case to solve. Suspects to track and bring to justice. The Bureau depended on him. If one more agent went down, they were all in danger. He could not let that happen. He needed a keen eye and an analytical mind to apprehend the spies.

Even if one of them was…Julie.

They sat so close that their knees touched beneath the small table. If he leaned in a few inches he’d be able to steal a kiss. Slowly, his gaze drifted to her mouth. Soft, full lips like Julie’s were meant to be kissed.

Often. By him. Just as he used to.

Abruptly, Zach rose to his feet. “I’d…better go. You sure you want to get up so early on a Saturday?”

“No problem. Besides, you’re not getting out of this.” Smiling, she reached for his hand and led him out of the room. “You’re going to tell me everything tomorrow, remember?”

“Right.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

After making their way down the stairway, Zach grabbed his jacket from the coatrack. He confirmed no dead bolts on her door. No alarm system, either. The team of agents would have no problem installing the electronic bugs, the pinhole cameras and microphones.

Zach and his unit would be able to hear every word and see every move inside her home once he had a Federal judge approve the wiretap. On an emergency level, he could get the authorization he needed in six hours, maybe even four. His gut knotted with worry realizing that Julie would be here alone tonight in her unsecured house.

Or would she?

Maybe she was seeing someone with Emmie conveniently tucked away at her folks’ house, thanks to him. Whoever her date was, he’d investigate the guy from the day he was born.

Zach pulled on his jacket and opened the door. Turning to Julie, he gently ran a finger along her jaw. “Lock the door behind me.”

“I will,” she whispered softly. Smiling, she surprised him with a quick hug. “See you in the morning.”

The door clicked as she shut and locked it behind him. A lot of good that lock would do. He could slide a credit card through and let himself back inside in a heartbeat, or kick the door in just as quickly.

Zach scanned the area along the lake. He took in the pleasant scent of tall Douglas fir trees that cast dark shadows along the narrow pathway that led back to the inn. The wind picked up and the sounds of waves breaking along the shore spread through the otherwise quiet night.

There were too many hiding places in this remote part of the grounds. Too many places for snipers to focus their scopes on unsuspecting souls and special agents who were onto them.

A steady rain fell as Zach jogged back to his room. Senior Agent in Charge John Castlerock, aka John Rockwell the chef, would be waiting for him with the newest evidence concerning this case.

They would be up all night going over the details on several unanswered mysteries—finding Agent Tomasino, who hadn’t been heard from in months, determining who could have taken shots at Zach, and figuring out who had killed the groundskeeper.

An uneasy feeling that he was missing something settled in his gut. While Zach was pleased that John had established his cover at the inn, he had the distinct feeling that his boss was holding something back. Besides the fact that Julie had a daughter, what other details had the Bureau hidden from him?