Page 22 of Kidnapped in Dark Waters
She fascinated him. She was so different from any other woman he’d ever known. He was interested in knowing everything about her. That didn’t mean he was entertaining any real feelings for her except a deep curiosity.
He reached the swamp entrance and parked and then got out of his car and headed in. The sunlight was still fairly bright overhead but it wouldn’t be long before twilight fell.
He walked briskly, more comfortable since he’d become more familiar with the path to her place. As always small animals scampered in the brush and insects buzzed and whirred in the air.
Maybe tonight would be the night she would give up this dangerous job she’d set for herself. What if Pierre hadn’t buried the book? Luke still didn’t understand why the man would have wanted Mystique’s client book to begin with, but the facts indicated the book had been stolen on the night of the murder. And Luke did believe Pierre was their murderer.
He shoved all these thoughts out of his head as he reached her front door. He knocked. “Dominique, it’s me.”
He heard her unlock her front door and then she opened it and gestured him inside. As usual, even though she was once again clad in the tight black jeans and a black T-shirt, she looked stunning. Her hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck, emphasizing her high cheekbones and beautiful features.
“Hi,” he said as he walked over to the sofa and sat.
“Hi yourself,” she replied and sat next to him, bringing with her the wonderful scent that he now identified as hers alone.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“It was okay. I had breakfast with my sisters, which is always nice. After that I worked the lunch shift at the café and I got back here just after four. How was your day?”
“Fairly quiet. I spent the morning doing a little cleaning and then this afternoon I went into the police station and spoke with Daniel. I also dropped off the note you got for fingerprinting.”
“Hopefully they’ll find some. Still no movement on my mother’s case?” she asked. Her beautiful eyes held his gaze and he wished he could tell her something, anything that would take away the haunting he saw in the depths there.
“Nothing,” he finally replied. “But that doesn’t mean something couldn’t break loose at any time.”
Her gaze turned skeptical. “And tomorrow gators will learn how to speak English.”
“My scenario is much more realistic than yours,” he replied with a small laugh.
She grinned at him, that impish smile that always charmed him. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
“The day that gators speak English, I’ll jump in the swamp and eat only insects.”
She laughed. He loved the sound of her laughter. It was low-pitched and musical. For the next hour they small-talked. He learned several more things about her.
Her favorite music was old rock and roll, the same kind he liked. She loved shrimp while he preferred a good burger. She believed in UFO’s, and he wasn’t sure he believed in extraterrestrial beings.
All too quickly, she was ready to leave the cabin and head out to Pierre’s shanty. “I wish you didn’t believe this was necessary,” he said as they walked out into the darkness of the night. She paused at the top of the bridge and turned to him.
“But I do think it’s necessary,” she replied softly. Her eyes glowed in the moonlight. “It’s been over two months since Angelique found our mother dead…murdered in her bed. Over two months with no closure. Over two months with no justice. Luke, I have to do this, otherwise I’d go crazy just sitting and waiting around for something to happen.”
“Then let’s go,” he said gently. She smiled at him gratefully and together they went across the bridge and into the tangled greenery of the swamp.
He followed her on the path to Pierre’s place. When they reached it, they crouched down behind the bushes where they had hidden the last time.
Lantern light spilled out of Pierre’s window and shadowy movement let him know the gator-hunter hadn’t left yet. Likethe last time, as they waited for Pierre to make a move, he couldn’t help but be far too aware of Dominique’s nearness.
His physical desire for her reared up and he had to consciously tamp it down. It had no place in their relationship. They were merely friends doing a job together, and that was all. He just had to keep her from harm, and that was the beginning and the ending of their relationship.
It wasn’t long before Pierre left his shanty. He carried the same items he had before and he seemed to be in no hurry as he took off down a path.
Luke and Dominique followed him closely, keeping brush and trees between them. They hadn’t gone far when Luke accidentally stepped on a dead tree limb that snapped loudly.
Pierre stopped in his tracks, his head swiveling slowly from right to left.Damn. Luke froze in place, as did Dominique as the gator-hunter seemed to look right at them.
Chapter Six
Dominque’s breath caught in the back of her throat. The snapping limb had sounded like a gunshot in the relative quiet of the night. It had certainly drawn the unwanted attention of Pierre.
