Starlight Dunes Read online

Getting out of her boxy SUV, River jogged over to the huge home-on-wheels with the foundation’s logo on the side. She studied the driver, Julian Gustave, the bespectacled, studious man she’d known for more than fourteen years. A crop of curly chestnut hair fell across his forehead and it made him look more disheveled than usual.

  As soon as Julian lowered the driver’s window, River chided her friends, “Hey you guys, took you long enough to get here. Where are the interns?” she asked, peering beyond the front seat.

  “What? No hello? No, how the heck are you? You ever try driving a gas-guzzling motor home from Alabama to California twenty-four-hundred miles and make good time?” Julian retorted in a teasing tone, adjusting his wire-rims. “And the interns are about a day behind us pulling all the equipment, making even worse time than we did. They should pull in here sometime tomorrow.”

  “We’d’ve been here sooner but this thing won’t go over sixty miles an hour,” Laura tossed in.

  River smiled over at Laura. If she had to pick a perfect mate for Julian she couldn’t have come up with a better one than the petite dishwater blonde who knew pre-Columbian facts and figures about indigenous people almost as well as River did. Not only that, Laura had a great sense of humor and was a kick to be around on a site.

  “Laura’s been itching to get out of this rig and spend one night in a real bed before the dig starts.”

  River grinned. “Good thing I snagged you guys an available room at Promise Cove for the weekend.”

  Laura grabbed Julian’s arm. “Think about it, an actual bed and breakfast. I’m so there.”

  “Trust me, you’ll love it. Beds so comfortable you won’t want to crawl out of them in the morning and food to die for. Beats the greasy spoon we had at our disposal in Brasher Hills all to pieces.”

  “I might miss southern-fried everything,” Julian noted.

  “We’ll get enough junk food over the next few weeks anyway. I’m looking forward to a real meal with real eating utensils,” Laura said.

  “Prepare yourself for eighteen-hundred-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets so soft they feel like silk.”

  Laura sighed.

  “You won’t be disappointed in the food either. It’s the best I’ve had in a long time,” River assured them both. “Why don’t you follow me to where you can park this monster and unhook the Jeep.”

  “Got us a spot all picked out?” Julian wanted to know.

  “You bet, thanks to the county sheriff. It’s within walking distance of the site. It’s actually perfect.”

  “A sheriff? Please tell us you aren’t already in trouble with the law in these parts,” Julian teased.

  “I’ll tell you about him over supper,” River promised as she headed back to her Wagoneer.

  From the passenger seat of the RV, Laura watched River go and turned to Julian. “Hmm, interesting.”

  “What is?”

  “Our fearless leader looks like she’s intrigued by this cop.”

  “How the hell can you tell that by one comment, one look? For all you know this guy could be in his sixties with four kids and seven grandchildren.”

  “I don’t think so. After five years, I know River. That look on her face suggests she’s more than a little captivated by this sheriff.”

  “I didn’t see anything but a jazzed woman who’s ready to get crackin’ on the dig. That’s the woman I saw just now.”

  “Well, yeah, that, too. But how long has it been since River’s had anyone in her life? Too long to even count. Since her divorce from that no-good bastard Wes, she dates less and less each year.”

  “She works practically all the time out in the boonies. Her job isn’t conducive to meeting men. Besides, you know she’s obsessed with her search, so much that she’s closed herself off to men in general.”

  “True and the ones she does meet are interns, students, or have some type of connection to the foundation. And you know how she feels about dating any member of her team. She won’t do it. I can’t remember the last time she had a day off unless it was to go see her mother.”

  “Last Christmas. She went back to Santa Fe and refused to talk about it afterward. She did tell me she spoke to the private investigator. How much money do you think she spends on that detective each month?”

  “Quite a lot I’d imagine. But she won’t give up, Julian. She’ll never give up. I wish we could do something to help.”

  “What would we do that we haven’t already done? I’ve offered her money to help pay for the PI. She won’t take it.”

  “I think that gets to her more than she’s willing to admit. She’s also lonely.”

  Julian sent her a desperate look. “I’m begging you, please, stay out of it, Laura. Your meddling will only spell trouble.”

  “You and I both know a dig site is like a movie set filled with gossip.”

  “Women,” Julian muttered under his breath as he pulled the RV back out onto the road to follow the boss into town.

  Once the two interns, Sandra McFarland and Walker Pruitt, showed up and got settled into the B & B, River held a strategy session that ended up turning into a wine-tasting event.

  The heart of Promise Cove seemed to be the dining room. So that’s where the team gathered around the table so that River could answer questions and go over the plan.

  “Why don’t we have more help?” Walker asked almost at once. “I expected the same size staff as we had in Alabama. Five people won’t even be close to that. We’re obviously short-handed here.”

  River smiled. “Wait until you see the narrow strip of beach we have to work with and you’ll appreciate the skeleton crew. If we had any more people here we’d be tripping over ourselves. As it is, the Pelican Pointe Project will be very different from the one we just left, for that matter any other dig you’ve worked on before. I guarantee that.”

  “How so?”

  “I’ll go over that tomorrow at the site. It’s easier for show and tell there than here. Besides, tonight is for making sure everyone knows their role and what I expect over the next few months.”

  “As long as we get to drink this divine chardonnay while we’re in town I don’t care what my role is,” Laura admitted, emptying her second glass. “I’ve always heard great things about the California wine country. This,” she said, holding up her glass, “does not disappoint. How far are we from Napa Valley anyway? I’d love to take a run through it while I’m this close.”

  River snickered and shook her head. “I knew it was a mistake to give Laura vino during a meeting. Try to concentrate on dirt instead of the white grape,” River cracked.

  “Come on, River. You have to admit this is an exciting time for us. A celebration of sorts is in order. And staying at this bed and breakfast, even for one night, is sheer heaven and a luxury we don’t often get.” Laura turned to Julian. “Maybe we could stay another night? What would be the harm in that? I’m even thinking of paying for it myself.”

  Julian smiled. “I’m not averse to spending another night here in a nice room with my woman,” he said as he put his arm around Laura’s shoulders.

  River couldn’t very well throw water on such enthusiasm. “Why don’t we get through tonight and reevaluate the lodging situation tomorrow? Not one of us is itching to live out of that tin can for the next couple of months.”

  “Try bedding down in the travel trailer. It’s in worse shape than the RV,” Walker groused.

  “Maybe they could cut us a deal here,” Sandra suggested. “You know, share rooms, the guys stay in one, the girls in another. That’s only two. I’d certainly be willing to bunk with one of you.”

  “I’m not sharing a room with Walker,” Julian stated emphatically. “Laura and I have been together now for over three years. I’m not going back to bunking with a guy during a dig. I’ll crack open my own wallet before that happens.”

  River suspected they’d be reluctant to leave the inn but she needed to nip this in the bud before it became an issue. “I told you guys, w
e’ll reassess the RV and camper situation. I don’t want us getting on each other’s last nerve though like happened in Alabama.”

  “Digs are notorious for becoming little three-act dramas,” Laura pointed out. “That’s how Julian and I hooked up to begin with, a blowup between two stubborn anthropologists led to one of them walking off the dig, I replaced the boneheaded rival.”

  River grinned. “I remember that. Look, the owners have already offered a generous discount to anyone who wants to take them up on it. I’ll leave it up to each individual. If you can work it into your budget, go for it. If not, it’s the camper. So unless you’re willing to toss in some cash to add to your per diem, you’re still looking at an outlay to stay here.”

  “I can’t afford to do that. I’m barely getting by as it is,” Walker said as he turned to Sandra. “How about you?”

  “’Fraid not. It’s gotta be out of my price range. I’m a lowly student who still mooches off friends whenever I can. Looks like it’s a comfy bed for tonight and back in the dingy travel trailer tomorrow,” Sandra groaned.

  An hour later River left her crew like that in grumble-state and closed herself off in her room. She opened her laptop to email Gil Conroy for an update. She hadn’t bugged the private detective for two whole days. Even if it was Sunday night, Gil was used to her badgering him at all hours either by phone or email. In her message, she kept it short and to the point.

  Anything come from the lead I gave you on Tuesday? If not, what about increasing the surveillance on Wes’s mother’s place? I know Hilda. She has to be keeping in contact with her son. Follow her, Gil. Please. I know Hilda has to be the key to finding Luke.

  After hitting send, she tried to shift gears and get some work done on a progress report that the foundation expected by midweek. But after two hours of staring at the screen, she couldn’t think of anything except Luke and the years she’d missed.

  Whether it was the torment she felt catching up with her, as it so often did during any downtime she had or the excitement of starting the dig the next day, she didn’t feel the least bit sleepy.

  She also had a bad case of the munchies despite eating her fill of Jordan’s roasted chicken at dinner. With a habit of craving chocolate late at night, she’d had the forethought to squirrel away a bag of fun-size Snickers. But she needed milk to go with one or maybe two.

  Because of that, she got out of bed to pull on a T-shirt, stretch on a pair of yoga pants. She grabbed a couple of candy bars in her hand and made her way down the back staircase to the kitchen.

  The old house creaked as old houses do, but as soon as she reached the last step something made her turn to her right. She caught movement over her shoulder and went into defensive mode, drawing back a fist, prepared to go for the nose.

  “What the hell? Damn it! You scared the crap outta me. What are you doing down here this time of night anyway?” River grumbled.

  “Technically, it’s my damn house. And the way you’re going on, you could wake the dead out at Eternal Gardens,” Scott pointed out. “That chocolate addiction of yours is a bad habit. You know you’ll have to brush your teeth again before going to bed, right?”

  With one hand still resting on her stuttering heart, she fast-tracked her recovery enough to mumble, “Okay, Dad, thanks for the reminder even though you don’t have to worry about such things. I’ll have you know my dental appointments have been stellar,” she added as she made her feet move to the cabinet, got down a glass. She went over to the fridge, poured the milk.

  “By the way, you’re right to think Hilda Patton is the key to finding your son.”

  At those words, the glass almost slipped out of her hand. “I knew it! Hilda’s protected him all this time. Gil has to be there when she slips up. And she will. Slip up that is. She’s got to. I have to hope for that,” River said, peeling the wrapper off the candy. She took a huge bite before sipping the milk and did her best to maintain a calm demeanor. “I appreciate knowing that. It’s a shame you can’t tell me where to look for him.”

  “I wish I could. Your secret’s safe with me, River,” Scott assured her. “No one here ever has to know until you decide to unload.”

  “Thanks for that. Julian and Laura know, of course, but I don’t share everything with them. It’s too painful, especially because it’s always the status quo.”

  “I know you keep things to yourself. You also keep your gift hidden from them, too. Is it because kids made fun of you at school?”

  “Something like that,” she uttered, letting the sugar and caramel combo kick in. “I wish you wouldn’t harsh my chocolate high right this minute with painful memories, especially when I haven’t set eyes on my baby since he was six months old.”

  “You have a special gift, River.”

  “Really? If that’s true, if it’s so special, then why doesn’t it help me find my little boy?”

  “I know exactly how you feel.” When he saw the face she made, he added, “I do. Even though I can’t wrap my arms around my child, I at least get to see her, make sure every day that she’s okay. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you not being able to do that.”

  River softened knowing how difficult it must be for him around his child without being able to touch her. But then, she grew angry. “I’ll tell you what it’s like. It’s pure hell. I want my baby back. I’d give up my job, I’d do anything to have my child back, to be able to see him, hold him, tuck him into bed at night, sing him a song. If I got the call right now that Gil had found him, I’d be there in a heartbeat anywhere in the world.”

  “I know that, too.”

  “Luke won’t know me. It’s been two long years. I missed everything, Scott. I missed Luke’s first steps, his teething, his first words. He was only six months old when Wes took off with him.” Tears streamed down her face. She suddenly lost the taste for the chocolate. Instead she felt like throwing up. At the loud sigh from Scott, she looked up into his face. “I want my baby back. Please, if you see anything, if you could tell me anything, anything at all. Please.”

  Scott rubbed his chin, cleared his throat to stall for time. “You tug at my heartstrings, River, you really do. You know it doesn’t work like that. Why do I always have to remind people about that one thing?”

  She let out the breath that had backed up in her lungs. “I don’t know. Why doesn’t it work differently? Why does it have to be like this? I didn’t deserve this. And Luke damn sure didn’t. Couldn’t you make an exception, just this one time?”

  Scott began to pace back and forth in front of the island. “Listen to me. You know Wes’s mother is hiding something, has been since Wes went on the run. Your private investigator needs to stay on her. She sends him money, River. His parents are in on this and they both help him move around, stay hidden.”

  River eyed Scott and said, “You know that for a fact? Because I tried to get the cop in charge of Luke’s case to see that and he never acted like it mattered.”

  Scott was tempted to tell her. But it wasn’t his place. “Use your intuition, River, or whatever it is you call what you do.”

  “You think I haven’t tried that? I’ve tried everything. I see the past. That doesn’t help me find my baby. I’ve consulted psychics. I’ve spent time with shamans from every tribe across North America willing to give me an audience.”

  “It’s because you’re too close. Go with your gut. Where do you think your ex would’ve taken him? Didn’t he have some favorite spot he’d always talked about seeing?”

  “I hate these subtle hints of yours. I already told Gil to check out what you told me on Tuesday—the ski areas from Northern California to Idaho because Wes loves the sport. I’m still waiting to hear back. If I don’t hear from Gil by tomorrow, I’ll bug him over the phone.”

  After considering Scott’s question for several seconds, she said, “Wes always wanted to live in the mountains, a region similar to his beloved New Mexico. He especially loved the Aspen area though, used to go skiing there
every spring break he got from school.”

  “Then have Gil look there. You’re going to find Luke, River. You will find your son.”

  “God, I hope you’re right. Maybe I should take another leave of absence, check out the Denver area on my own?”

  “Is that what you want to do? I’m telling you, confide in Brent Cody. He can help with this.”

  Since she wasn’t so sure about that, she changed the subject. “How do you know so much about my gift anyway?”

  Scott sent her a withering stare without bothering to reply.

  “Okay. So you must know that I felt different growing up. The kids let me know it on a daily basis.”

  “You hated school. It’s a wonder you did as well as you did. Look at you now, smart as a whip. Just goes to show that a person can overcome adversity, overcome feeling different.”

  “Smart as a whip doesn’t help me locate my son.”

  “In the long run it will, trust me.”

  “I wish I could. It’s a stubborn streak a mile-wide and the fact that I refused to buckle under the pressure to give up. I think Wes exploited my childhood when we met. In fact, I’m sure of it. He knew about the gaping hole in my self-confidence and knew that was my weakness.”

  “I’m sure that’s true.”

  “I studied hard and got the tag as a nerd early on, maybe because I spent most of my time alone. When I met Wes…”

  “I know something about being different. All the kids at school had their moms and dads. I had grandparents. Not that they weren’t great but…”

  “It wasn’t the same thing. I get it. The fact your parents were dead made you different. But you still loved it here. I can see why. It’s a beautiful place. You made a connection to the land, the cove, the town, long before you ever did with your grandparents.”

  “See, right there, that insightful nature of yours has to pay off in the long run. I’m curious about something. How long do you intend to make Brent Cody suffer?”

  “What? Hmm, let’s see, how about till hell freezes over?”

  “That’s pretty steep for a simple invitation to dinner that went awry.”