ICE PRINCESS, page 9
"Oops." She gave a light laugh. "We goofed. Here let me." She brushed him clear with her thumb.
Zach’s gaze clicked up to hers. Gone was the light-hearted camaraderie. In its place was an emotion alien to Claudia, yet one which seemed to prevail these last days with Zach nearby—lust. This time it was overwhelming. If he kissed her now…
"Bacon," his voice rasped.
Claudia shook her thoughts clear. "What?"
"I’ll have a piece of bacon now."
"Of course." Yet neither moved to accomplish the request.
She was conscious of him moving the frying pan to a different burner, of him facing her more fully, of him bracing his hands on the counter on either side of her. And of him never once breaking eye contact while he did so. Silently, she encouraged him, willing him to pull her against him and do what they both so desperately needed to do.
"Claudia, I—"
A blast from the doorbell startled them, yet the contact did not break.
"The joys of neighborhood living," he said with regret, and reluctantly shoved away from her. "You’d better get it. We don’t want to intimidate any wives by having me show up at the door right at this moment."
"What could you possibly do to intimidate them?"
His gaze traveled a lazy circuit across her face. "Do you really want to know, Princess?"
The word caressed her, dissolving any reserve which held her in place. Yes…she wanted to know. She wanted to feel. To kick free from the bonds Todd’s betrayal and desertion had placed around her heart. The doorbell had other ideas.
"Get the door while I change into more appropriate clothes."
He was up the stairs before her curiosity could be satisfied. It was better that way, better to leave the door closed, especially where Zach was concerned. They had been at odds for too many years. How could she expect that to change simply because she wanted to change herself?
The impatient visitor switched to pounding at the door. Whoever it was thrived on persistence. Had this been a normal situation, Claudia would have wasted no time giving her, or him, a strong piece of her mind. But they were here to make contacts—even annoying ones.
That attitude faded when she opened the door and saw Vic standing on the other side, dressed as a cable installer. A truck parked in the driveway added to the illusion.
"Cable man," he sang out, then dropped his voice a couple of decibels. "You gonna let me in or do I have to stand here all morning?"
"You should be careful about giving me a choice. You might not like the answer." She shoved the door wider, waved him in, and shouted for Zach.
He thundered down the steps seconds later in jeans and a pullover shirt. "You’re taking a chance coming here, don’t you think?"
He shrugged. "Everyone needs the cable installed when they move in. Your neighbors won’t suspect a thing."
"Until the real cable man shows up," Zach replied. "I can only presume you have information?"
"I do."
Vic’s demeanor turned from cocky to business-like. It was definitely an improvement, but Claudia still didn’t trust the man to remain professional for very long.
"Have a seat at the table. You can tell us over coffee while Zach and I finish breakfast. After all, you do have to stay here long enough to give the illusion of having actually worked."
Vic chuckled. "You sure you don’t want a job with us?"
Claudia shook her head and walked away. Vic waited until they were seated around the kitchen table, then curled his fingers around his steaming coffee mug.
"We got the preliminary autopsy back on Teddy Sunline this morning. He died of injuries consistent with blunt force trauma."
Zach swallowed his mouthful of omelet. "You mean he was hit over the head."
"More like he was hit all over his body," Vic replied. "The coroner said it looked like someone ran over him with a car."
Claudia leaned forward. "The one I saw that night?"
Vic shook his head and sipped his coffee. "We’ve discovered that was Sunline’s car. As you recall, it was found deserted a couple of miles from his house. There are blood stains all over the back seat, but the outside was clean. No residual blood or tissue. I doubt it was the murder weapon. There’s no damage. When a car hits someone, it’s obvious."
Zach tapped his finger on his fork. "What about fingerprints?"
"The forensics team is going over it now, but it looks just as clean."
"Sounds like a professional job."
"Or someone who thought very carefully before carrying out the murder. Someone very meticulous."
Claudia and Zach caught each other’s gaze. It wasn’t looking good for Allison.
"We saw Allison Sinclair washing her car yesterday when we arrived…with a toothbrush." Zach polished off his last bite of toast.
Vic snorted. "Well, I guess it doesn’t get any more meticulous than that."
"But there’s no damage to it." Claudia dabbed her napkin at the corners of her mouth. "What about Sunline’s house? Any clues there?"
"We’re still waiting for permission from the family to search it."
"If you like, I’ll speak to them. They might respond more favorably to a woman."
"Pushy, aren’t you?"
"Whatever it takes to get the job done. In the meantime," Claudia shoved her chair back, "I think it’s time for a little neighborly visit with Allison Sinclair."
"Excellent idea." Vic drained the last of his coffee. "Here’s what you do."
In less time than she cared to think about, Claudia was standing before the Sinclair door, armed with several excuses with which to worm her way into the house. Wearing a polished confidence she did not feel, she pressed the doorbell.
But it wasn’t Allison who answered. It was her husband. Claudia did a double-take, overwhelmed with a combination of surprise and awe.
She was tall, but Martin Sinclair towered over her. He had the looks of a movie star and a ready smile to go with them. For a Marine colonel, his salt-and-pepper hair was just shy of being too long. Claudia imagined there wasn’t an officer higher than him willing to point that out, and if they did, Sinclair would smooth his way around that slight infraction of Marine Corps policy.
"Good morning. This is a pleasant surprise."
There was a hint of accent in his voice, but Claudia couldn’t place its origin. "I’m sorry to bother you. I thought you would be at work."
"My wife’s a bit under the weather so I stayed to make sure she was going to be all right. What can I do for you?"
If the woman was sick, Claudia didn’t want to bother her. Still, she couldn’t stand here looking stupid. "We just moved in across the street. I was going to ask if I might use your phone to call my brother. Ours won’t be turned on until sometime tomorrow and I wanted him to know our new address. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize your wife was ill. I can come back later."
"Nonsense."
He caught her arm before she could step back and drew her into the house.
Claudia resented the grip he had on her. It was too personal and much too harsh, too forceful. Just as she was about to point that out to him, he released her.
"What are neighbors for if we can’t help each other? Allison’s up and around. I’m on my way out. Phone’s over there." He pointed to the kitchen.
Claudia was afraid to set one foot on the carpet. It was the same style and color as that in her house, but here it looked pristine. Each pile was upright and perfect, the only footsteps those of the man who had answered the door.
Everything about the house was impeccable, like a picture from a magazine. No dust or fingerprints marred the cherry wood tables. The cushions on the white sofa were wedged in place with a precision a bricklayer would envy. And each book on the floor to ceiling case was arranged by height and width. Not one of the spines was cracked or looked used.
Allison glided down the stairs dressed in khaki capris and an oversized camp shirt. A silk scarf in shades of cream and gold was beautifully arranged at her throat. If Martin hadn’t mentioned it, Claudia would never have guessed the woman was ill.
"I’m sorry to intrude. I’m Claudia, your new neighbor. I just needed to use your phone."
Allison shot her husband a glance, then nodded. "Of course. May I offer you a cool drink?"
"No, thank you. But I was wondering if you would be able to tell me where I can do some shopping. My husband tells me I’ll need a formal dress for the Marine Corps Ball next weekend."
"Not a problem," Sinclair said. "Allison will be glad to take you down to Palm Springs tomorrow, won’t you, dear?"
Her faced remained expressionless. "Of course…tomorrow."
"That’s certainly one way to get to know your neighbors." Claudia gave a soft laugh to cover the awkwardness she felt. "No, No. I wouldn’t want to impose."
Sinclair waved the comment away. "No imposition at all. Allison has nothing better to do with her time. And if you really want to get to know the neighbors around here, you can offer up your place for the next Monday night football gathering."
She’d rather chew glass. "We can do that. I’ll let Zach know."
"Monday it is. Ladies…" He dropped a kiss to Allison’s cheek and left.
Allison folded her hands before her. "The telephone is in the kitchen."
Claudia dared a peek over her shoulder as she crossed the sacred carpet. Behind her, Allison refreshed the carpet pile, wiped a non-existent speck of dust from the table, adjusted the drapes, and fluffed the cushions. Claudia had never felt more out of place in her life.
She punched in Phillip’s number as fast as she could, then counted the seconds until Rowan answered. Rowan played her part, receiving information that didn’t matter without any questions. The entire conversation lasted less than a minute, yet Allison’s constant fussing made it seem like an hour.
She slipped the receiver into its cradle, but refused to set foot on the carpet. "Thank you. I’ll let myself out the back door."
"Come over when you’re ready to leave tomorrow morning. I’d like to get an early start. I need to be home before Marty gets off work."
It was her job. She swore she’d get to the bottom of Sunline’s murder, but if she had to spend one more minute with Allison… "Tomorrow then."
Zach was waiting for Claudia by the door when she walked back into their house. Vic nursed a second cup of coffee at the kitchen table.
"That was quick," Zach said.
Claudia didn’t spare him a glance as she slipped into the nearest chair. "We’re going shopping tomorrow morning. Monday night you and I get to host the neighborhood football party."
"That was quick," Vic said with a laugh.
She traced the point of her chin. "A little too quick. Orchestrated primarily by Colonel Martin Sinclair, not me. Either he’s one hell of nice guy or…"
Zach propped himself against the counter. "Or what?"
Away from the Sinclairs, more questions than answers arose. Allison’s actions were automatic, not by rote or routine but by something more. She was a puppet whose strings were yanked, but by what force…guilt, or her husband?
Claudia shook the thought away. It was premature and unprofessional to jump to conclusions. "It’s nothing I can put my finger on. It just feels odd over there."
"How so?"
"I just don’t know. Regimented. Claustrophobic. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get some clues. I need to get out of here for a while. I’m going to the gym." Claudia jumped up and grabbed her purse.
Zach snagged the strap and yanked her to a halt. "If you’ll wait, I’ll go with you."
"I’d rather be alone."
He released his hold and held up his hands. "I understand."
But he didn’t and at that point Claudia couldn’t find a way to tell him that this time he wasn’t the problem.
Zach watched her drive away, felt the bricks pile back up on that nasty wall between them, and wondered why it bothered him all of a sudden. It was nothing new, this wall. But in those rare instances when her fortress crumbled, he caught a glimpse of the real Claudia, and he didn’t want to let that vision go.
Behind him, Vic sighed. "Trouble with the newlyweds?"
"Shut up, Vic."
* * *
Claudia stood just inside the entrance to one of the base’s gyms. Every machine she could possibly want to try was before her and free to use. A rare treat. A glorious opportunity. But her heart wasn’t in it.
From the corner of her eye she saw a man approach her. Claudia turned the other way. Conversation was also not on her list of priorities for now. The last thing she needed to deal with was being hit on. She wanted time to think, to clear the image of Allison flicking her pale, thin fingers over the carpet pile.
"Need some help?"
She narrowed her gaze at the sandy-haired intruder, ready to blast him with a frosty rejection. His friendly smile stopped her. There was a familiarity, yet Claudia couldn’t recall having met him before.
His grin widened, pale blue eyes sparkling with laughter. After a quick look around, he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Girlfriend?"
"Kiki?" she whispered, a smile tugged at her lips. "Or should I stick with Kurt?"
"In the flesh. I work here. I teach aerobics, self-defense, and help people use the machines." He gave her a wink. "It’s glorious. All these men. You would be surprised at how many husbands get jealous of me being around their women. If only they knew."
That did it. Claudia laughed until her sides ached. It was just the medicine her fractured soul needed. Kiki…Kurt just smiled.
"So," he tucked his arms over his well-defined chest, "here to relieve a little stress? You look a little fried."
Was it that obvious? If they had been old friends and not new, Claudia might have confided in him…her…whichever.
"We’ve been moving into our new place here on base, and I decided I needed a break. Some time on the StairMaster should do it."
"Great. Once you’re done, I’ll treat you to lunch."
She rolled her eyes. "Please, no more food. I’m here to work off a breakfast you wouldn’t believe. A cold drink will do just fine."
"Great." He lowered his voice once more. "Maybe we can trade secrets. Even dressed to sweat, you have that certain je ne sais quoi I’m dying to learn."
Kiki-Kurt had that certain something, too—no matter which persona he portrayed. Two hours later, sitting outside the gym talking over liter-bottles of cold water, Claudia marveled over the masculine side of her new-found friend. An amazing transition from the night before, and no one but she was the wiser. He was a fine looking man, with a small waist and lithe, hardened muscles. Not as well-built as Zach, though.
"I’m curious," he admitted.
Claudia smiled. "About what?"
"You. You’re an attentive listener. You ask all the right questions to keep a person talking, but what about you? Who is Claudia? Who is this calm goddess in the eye of storm?"
Her smile faltered. She traced circles in the perspiration on her bottle. "She’s a fraud, Kurt."
By slow degrees, the words tumbled out. Claudia found herself telling Kiki-Kurt things she had never fully discussed with anyone—Todd, her father, the pain of betrayal, her first meeting with Zach, the ridiculous farce of a marriage, her parallel to Allison. When the final words spilled out, she was exhausted, drained. All she longed to do was curl up somewhere and sleep.
"So now, knowing all this, what does Claudia want? Answer quick, without thinking."
"To go to bed with Zach."
He tilted a nod her way.
Claudia shook her head, then let it drop. "But I promised myself I would never do that again until I got married."
Kiki-Kurt covered her hands with his. "But, girlfriend, you are married to the man."
Claudia jerked upright, then slumped once more. "He’s going to break my heart."
"That’s all part of life and taking chances. Enjoy the good while it lasts. Deal with the bad, if it comes. Live life. That’s what it was meant for."
Claudia gave a soft laugh. "After all these years, I wouldn’t even know how to approach a man, especially a man like Zach. Kiki, he’s experienced."
He gave her a wink. "You take care of suppressing the Ice Princess persona, and I guarantee that his libido will take care of the rest."
Good advice. Now all she needed was the nerve to carry it out.
Chapter 8
* * *
On the surface, Teddy Sunline’s house was no different than the dozens of others surrounding it. That in itself drew Zach’s suspicions. By all accounts, Sunline was a bachelor, yet his front yard said otherwise.
Rose bushes danced alongside the house, beds of alyssum weaved between them like giant swatches of lace. Tulips, lilies, and irises anchored a winding sidewalk. Pots of marigolds were nestled on the front porch next to the door. Near the stoop, hummingbirds darted to a feeder.
Vic pulled two pair of latex gloves from his pocket and handed one to Zach. "We don’t want to taint any evidence we find."
Behind him, Zach heard the other two agents snap theirs into place. "Are you sure this is the right house? I keep expecting to see a wife and kids any minute."
Vic gave a visual scan of the yard, then slowly shook his head. "I’ve been asking myself that same question. But this is the address he gave his office. Guess we’ll find out in a second or two." He jangled the keys, then slipped one into the lock. The door whipped open before he could turn the knob.
The young woman on the other side glared at them, and Zach didn’t doubt she was one step away from calling 9-1-1.
"Can I help you?" A frosty challenge, not a question.
Vic fumbled for his identification, then flipped the wallet open for her to see. "NCIS. Sorry, ma’am. We were told this was Teddy Sunline’s house."
Her brown eyes flicked to each man. "It is. Is Teddy in some sort of trouble?"
"Who are you, ma’am? His girlfriend?"
She blinked wide, confused eyes. "Janie Brighton. I’m Teddy’s maid."
"Perhaps we should go inside." Vic didn’t give her time to decide. He cupped her elbow and maneuvered passed the front door.
