The Treasure Seeker Page 15

  “She can be on the job for days at a time.” She turned off the hose and started in on the feeders. “I can only imagine how hard that must be on a relationship.”

  Ah, there it was. “If she’s that busy, I doubt she even has time to think about a relationship,” Ry said as nonchalantly as she could.

  “Oh, there’s always time to start things,” her mom said. “It’s finishing them that most people don’t have time for.”

  Ry felt a bit of a bite in her mom’s words. “Do you not like Nicole?”

  Her mom stopped working and looked at her. “That’s not it at all. I’m eternally grateful to her for saving your life.” She held Ry’s gaze. “I was only saying that anyone in a relationship with her would have to be extremely understanding about her job, the long hours and the constant danger.”

  Ry sat quietly while her mom continued to work. Flirting with Nicole had been fun and she wouldn’t be opposed to taking it further, but she certainly hadn’t been contemplating a relationship. Had she?

  Her mother finished filling the last of the feeders. “I’m going in and get cleaned up. Then I’ll start dinner.”

  “I think I’m going to sit and watch the birds for a while,” Ry said.

  Later that night when Ry went to bed, the previous night’s scenario repeated. It happened again on the third night. As before, after the voices woke her, she would sit staring out the window until she heard her parents get up. Only then could she go back to bed and sleep until late afternoon. It wasn’t until the fourth night when the voices started that she finally found some relief.

  As the voices pulled at every shred of her sanity something within her suddenly snapped and a raw power unlike anything she had ever felt before surged through her. As the power intensified, the voices grew calmer. They didn’t go away or lessen in number. They simply seemed to become less aggressive. Somewhere deep in her core she heard herself requesting only one voice at a time and it happened.

  The single voice was eerily familiar. It took her a moment to realize she had heard it the night she had spoken to Granny Jeter. It was the voice of the young woman who had wanted her mother to find her diary. As soon as Ry recognized the voice, a visual image appeared. It didn’t appear in a human form but rather in shades of dull colors. Sad colors.

  “Please help me,” the image pleaded.

  “Who are you? Who is your mother and how do I find her?”

  “I’m Lilly. My mother’s name is Jankowski. You have to tell her about the diary, please.”

  “Where does your mother live?”

  “She’s at home. You have to tell her about the diary. It’s hidden behind the fake panel in my closet.”

  “I need to know where your mother lives. What’s her first name?”

  The image faded.

  When it disappeared, so did the other voices. Ry stretched her body until her leg muscles threatened to cramp. She felt at peace. She fell asleep with a smile on her face and slept soundly through the night.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ry woke to the sound of birds chattering around the backyard feeders. When she got up to shower she sensed a new power within her. She felt her shoulders straighten and she stood a little taller. The biggest change was she knew who she truly was and her purpose in life. She had been searching for something all her life. It was so painfully clear; she marveled that it had taken her so long to figure it out. She was a searcher, a seeker and had been her entire life.

  Dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and boots, she stood in front of the mirror and combed her hair, being careful of the surgical wound on her forehead. The bruises on her face had faded completely. She would continue to be respectful of her recent injuries, but she knew without a doubt that she had nothing to fear from them. She stared at herself in the mirror. In essence, today was the first day of her true life. Today she would begin searching. She would find Lilly’s mom somehow and she would pass on Lilly’s message. Seeking people and things would be her life’s work. She placed the comb on the dresser. It was time to start.

  When Ry walked into the kitchen, her parents were at the table having coffee. “Good morning,” she called cheerfully.

  They looked up, clearly surprised by her sudden appearance. Both of them frowned as they watched her pour her coffee.

  “You look…rested,” her mom said.

  “I slept straight through the night.”

  Her father glanced at her boots and then back at her. “Dr. Price said it would take a while before you started to feel better.” He looked more closely at her. “Did you use something to cover those bruises?”

  “No. They’re just finally starting to fade.” Ry sat at the table with them. “So, what time is this shindig kicking off?”

  Her mom was still watching her. “Your brothers will be here around ten. The girls are going to help me cook.”

  After breakfast Ry used the computer in her father’s office to search for Lilly Jankowski. She finally found an obituary. Lilly had committed suicide in 2001. Her mother Irene Jankowski had discovered the body. According to the obituary, Lilly and her mom lived in Los Angeles. Ry checked the white pages and found a listing for Irene Jankowski.

  She reached for a notepad that rested beneath a small box with a glass top. Inside the box was an arrowhead she and her father had found when she was about six. She opened the box and lifted out the arrowhead. The world spun as images of a battle filled her head. She dropped the arrowhead back into the box and closed the lid. It took her a moment to catch her breath. She pushed the pad and box away and extracted a smaller notepad from beneath a stack of envelopes. Her hand shook as she jotted the number and address on the notepad. She forced herself to focus on Irene Jankowski. How should she go about contacting this woman? She shut down the computer, but continued to stare at the blank screen.

  The contact had to remain anonymous. She had seen too many bad movies where the individual who had started out intending to help someone, ended up being the one who needed help. Whatever method she chose had to be completely safe. She had to ensure that the information she sent could never be traced back to her.

  Ry drummed her fingers on the desk. There had to be a way. Then she saw the box of envelopes and smiled. It was time to go old school. She could send Irene Jankowski a letter through the postal system. The only drawback was that she would never know if Irene found the diary or not. She could mail the letter from San Antonio. There would be no way to trace it back to her.

  Ry started back to the kitchen to see if she could help her mom with dinner. The front door burst open and James and Michelle’s three kids came running to her. Before she could get away, the rest of her siblings and families poured in, each of them toting something intended for dinner.

  Things were going great until Elise gave Ry a hug. As soon as they hugged, Ry’s world melted into the burst of colors. She saw folded money tucked beneath what appeared to be fabric. She looked closer. “It’s caught under the lining in your purse,” she whispered.

  Elise leaned back and stared at her. “What?”

  Ry kept her voice low. “The money you lost. There’s a hole in the lining of your purse. The money is in there.”

  Elise was about to say more but stopped when Lewis joined them.

  “How are you feeling, Ry?” he asked. “You look amazing.”

  “I feel good,” she said as she hugged him.

  He stepped back and stared at her a moment before nodding. “You really look good.”

  Annie leaned in to hug Ry and again the burst of colors blinded her. She couldn’t stop the cry of happiness when the image appeared before her. She managed to cover her excitement by announcing she was so happy to be home. Annie’s eyebrows rose slightly at Ry’s sudden outburst, but she seemed to accept it and move on. Ry had to bite her lip to keep from screaming out that Lewis and Annie would soon have a son.

  The steady stream of people kept coming in. Victor Orozco along with his wife and son among them. He told
her that the county cops still had her phone. She would have no problem getting it back since it wasn’t considered evidence.

  It was after two before Nicole arrived. She was dressed in her uniform. “I’m sorry to be so late,” she said to Doreen. “I’m working today. I made an excuse to run by and check Nat Zucker’s place again.” She smiled. “Of course, I told them I intended to stop for lunch first.”

  “You go sit down by Ry and I’ll find you a plate,” Doreen said.

  Ry saw the same look of surprise on Nicole’s face as she had with everyone else. She simply smiled. She knew there was no way she could feel so special without looking different.

  “Wow, you look amazing,” Nicole said as she gave Ry a quick hug. “Getting out of that hospital has really done wonders for you.”

  “It should. All I do is sleep and eat,” Ry said.

  Doreen set a full plate in front of Nicole. “I got you a little of everything,” she said as she handed Nicole a set of silverware and a second plate with a piece of carrot cake. She rushed off as someone called her name.

  Nicole smiled and dug into the food. “Gosh, this is so good. I can’t remember the last time I had a home cooked meal.”

  “I take it you don’t cook?” Ry asked.

  “I’m never home to cook. We’re so shorthanded. Sometimes it seems like all I do is work.”

  Ry’s uncles, Allen and Zack Shelton, joined them. They immediately began to question Nicole about this or that hunting law. Nicole was extremely gracious in answering their questions. As soon as Nicole had finished her meal, Ry pried her away from her uncles and led her outside.

  “You should leave your hat off more often,” Ry said as she ran her hand over Nicole’s short, glossy hair.

  Nicole smiled. “You don’t like my Smokey Bear hat?” Before Ry could respond, she rushed on. “Your uncles certainly love hunting.”

  “I’m sorry about that. Once they get started it’s hard to change the subject,” Ry said as they strolled across the backyard.

  “Don’t worry about it. Stuff like that happens all the time.” She glanced at Ry. The sunlight seemed to enhance the mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “So tell me what’s going on with you. I can’t believe how good you look. And you seem to be as good as new.”

  “I feel great,” Ry admitted. “I’m chalking it up to good, clean country air and an extremely vigilant guardian angel.”

  Nicole shook her head. “You scared me half to death when I found you on that porch. I’ve been a game warden for eight years and I’ve seen my share of some horrible stuff. I’ve even seen a gunshot victim, but whew,” she blew loudly. “I really thought you were dead.”

  They had reached the edge of the yard and had started along the road that ran alongside the barn. Ry slipped her hand around Nicole’s arm. “They say I would have died without your quick thinking.” She grinned and added, “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

  Nicole’s eyes twinkled. “Is this a working barn or just here for decoration?”

  “There’s no livestock in it, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Really. Maybe I should check it out. You never know what might be hiding in there.”

  Ry turned to face Nicole. “I need to tell you something.”

  “That sounds rather ominous.”

  Ry shook her head. “I don’t think so. I just want to be upfront. I’m right out of a relationship and I’m not looking for anything permanent right now.”

  Nicole nodded. “So, you’re telling me you just want an occasional booty call.”

  Ry winced. “It sounds so much worse when you put it that way.”

  “Ry, I love my work. There are more days than I would care to tell you when I literally live in my car. I have more clothes in my car and my locker at the office than I do at home. I have no pets and I rent a room above my sister’s garage. And as appealing as a booty call with you sounds, I honestly couldn’t commit to it.” She rubbed Ry’s shoulder. “All I have to offer is what’s right here. In all honesty, my phone could ring at any time.”

  Ry gave a quick glance back to make sure none of her nieces and nephews had decided to trail along. “Then I guess you should get in there and start checking the barn.” She took Nicole’s hand. “It could be dangerous. Maybe I should go with you.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Nicole asked in a serious tone. “I mean you were just released from the hospital.”

  “I’m actually sort of miserable right now,” Ry admitted, “but I’m betting you’ll be able to cure me again real soon.”

  They walked into the cool interior of the barn.

  “There is a great hayloft up there,” Ry said as she started for the ladder.

  “Oh, no. I’m not about to be responsible for you climbing up a ladder. The last thing you need is to fall from that thing.”

  Ry turned to stare at her. “I swear to you I am fine.”

  Nicole didn’t budge.

  “Okay, come on, let’s see what’s back here.” She led the way to the old feed storage room where miscellaneous items of unused furniture were now stored.

  As soon as they were inside, Ry reached for her. “It’s hard to believe someone hasn’t snared you.” She saw a sudden shift in Nicole’s gaze and stepped back. “You’re not involved with someone, are you?”

  “There’s no one here,” Nicole countered.

  Ry sighed and stepped farther away from her. “But, there is someone somewhere.”

  “Yes, but she understands that I’m not there for more than a couple of weeks a year, and her job keeps her from moving here.” She reached out her hand.

  Ry fought the temptation to take it. If the other woman didn’t care, why should she? “I can’t.”

  “I swear we have an understanding.”

  Ry shrugged. “I’m sure you do, but I just can’t.”

  Nicole rubbed the back of her neck and finally nodded. “I understand.”

  They stood in silence for a moment.

  “I guess I should go,” Nicole said. “My lunch hour is over. I need to drive over and have another look around Nat Zucker’s place.” She looked at Ry. “No hard feelings, I hope.”

  “How can I be angry? You saved my life.” She gave Nicole a quick hug before they started back toward the house.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ry had just entered the living room when she spied Daniel coming down the hallway from the kitchen tugging at his tucked in button-down shirt. Daniel normally wore T-shirts and jeans. He owned more T-shirts than anyone she knew. She suspected Elise had made him wear a dress shirt and slacks for today’s get together. At five-foot-ten inches, Daniel was the shortest of her brothers. The majority of his height was in his torso, and because of this she had once teased him that he looked like Yogi Bear. As he got older and a little paunchier, the resemblance increased. She suppressed a smile as she envisioned him with a little hat and wide tie.

  “Stop fussing with your clothes,” she said as he walked into the room.

  “Where have you been?” he asked as he studied her closely. He didn’t wait for her to answer. “What’s going on with you? You look different.” He looked her up and down. “You look taller.”

  “I’m not slouching.” She was normally five-foot-eight and today she was practically eye-to-eye with him.

  He shook his head. “No. It’s more than that. You look different. I don’t know what it is exactly.” He stared at her a moment. “You look like you should be in charge or something.”

  She laughed. “What would I be in charge of?”

  Again, he shook his head. “I don’t know. You’re sort of intimidating, like if you weren’t my sister, I think I’d be afraid of you.”

  “As well you should be afraid anyway, brother.” She laughed as she grabbed his cheeks and pinched them sharply.

  “Quit that. You know how much I hate that,” he complained. He rubbed his cheeks. “You’re as bad as Aunt Sophie. I came in here to hide from her.”


  Ry looked around quickly. “I didn’t know she was here. Where is she?”

  He continued to rub his cheeks. “In the kitchen the last time I saw her. She and Uncle Carl came in about twenty minutes ago.”

  Ry put an arm across his shoulders and lowered her voice. “Daniel, it’s the weirdest thing. I feel better now than I’ve ever felt in my life.” She arched her shoulders. “I swear I feel like I could take on you, Lewis and James and give you all a good thumping. I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do or see.”

  He snorted. “You couldn’t thump a single one of us, even if it was our worst day and your best.”

  “You do realize that you sound as though you’re about six years old,” she teased.

  “Hey, I’m just being realistic. And, what do you mean you’re seeing things?”

  She glanced around them to be sure they were still alone. “Swear to me you won’t tell a soul what I’m going to tell you, not even Elise.”

  He frowned and hesitated. “I don’t know, Ry. You know I tell Elise everything.”

  She shrugged. “You’re right, you do.” She stepped away. “So what construction projects are you guys working on now?”

  He looked at her incredulously. “What? You mean you aren’t going to tell me?”

  She shook her head. “Sorry, bro. I can’t chance it. I haven’t figured out how I’m going to handle this yet.” She saw his look of surprise. “I need to think about the repercussions,” she continued. She needed to tell someone what was happening to her, but at the same time, she was scared to tell. Once she told, it was out there and couldn’t be taken back. “You never know how people will react to things.”

  “Dang it all, Ry. You know that sort of crap drives me crazy.”

  “Do you swear not to tell anyone, including Elise?”

  He practically gritted his teeth. “Yes, I swear.”

  She glanced around once more to be sure they were alone. “Annie is going to have a boy,” she whispered.

  His face lit up. “That’s wonderful. When did they find out? I thought they didn’t want to know.”