Stoneview Estate. Leona Karr

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СКАЧАТЬ of Heather’s personal effects stored in the boxes that were stacked throughout the attic?

      Brian wanted to question Nick about the possibility, but he knew he had to wait. Rushing things could land him out of the house on his ear. He mentally made a note to make a personal search of the attic at the first safe opportunity.

      As they started bringing chairs down to the basement, Brian was surprised at the spaciousness of the recreation room. Not only was there a full bar, but a nice-size dance floor, complete with a large jukebox that would have made any antique dealer drool.

      “Does it still work?” Brian asked, peering at the layered 78 rpm records.

      He was startled when Robyn unexpectedly came up behind him and plugged in a cord. Instantly, the machine glowed with gaudy colors and blinking lights. As she touched a selection, one of the 78 rpm records dropped smoothly into place.

      He laughed when the bouncy notes of “Chattanooga Choo Choo” filled the room. Robyn swayed slightly in rhythm with the music, and he was startled by the relaxed sweetness of her mouth and the dreamy softness in her eyes. Soft wisps of gingery hair highlighted her smooth complexion, and long seductive curls caressed her cheeks. One thing he knew for certain—every ounce of Robyn Valcourt’s supple body was aching to dance!

      Boldly, he reached out, took her hands and twirled her in a complete spin before she had a chance to protest. He eased her into position and grinned at her. “Shall we dance?”

      Without giving her an option, he quickly initiated some easy jitterbug steps. Not only did she follow him, but even challenged him to match some intricate patterns of her own. She threw back her head and laughed at his expression of surprise. By the time the record ended, both of them were breathing heavily and laughing.

      Nick shook his head. He’d been watching them with an expression of disbelief on his face. “What is it with you two?” he chided impatiently. “Are we going to get this place ready or not?”

      Brian watched Robyn’s countenance suddenly lose its effervescence. Tense lines immediately replaced the smile curves around her lips. She looked a little like a child who’d been caught shirking her duties. He wanted to say something, but didn’t know what might be appropriate. He couldn’t take a chance on ruining this unexpected connection with her.

      “What about it, Brian?” Nick demanded. “Are you going to help or not?”

      “Sure thing,” he answered smoothly. He wondered if Nick’s irritation was really about work, or if he was jealous of Robyn’s attention. “Thanks for the dance,” he told her, and then turned to follow Nick up the stairs.

      ROBYN HAD LEARNED dances of different kinds the year her parents were stationed in France. Embassy kids attending the same school had access to a jukebox and indulged in a lot of impromptu parties. Unfortunately, after Robyn came to live with her grandmother her social life had not included many dances. In secret, she’d enjoyed the private pleasure of spending time in the rec room, playing the jukebox and dancing by herself.

      As she caught her breath, she realized what a delight it was to be actually dancing with a smooth, easy-moving partner whose gentle but firm touch guided her with such persuasion. When he’d twirled her away from him in a dizzying spin, and then brought her back to him, she’d let herself lean shamelessly against him. She had abandoned herself to the joy of the music and the harmony of their bodies moving together.

      Nick’s critical remarks had quickly dissipated the release and exuberance she’d felt while dancing. As she caught her breath, she realized that it might be a little embarrassing to be around Brian Keller after what had happened.

      “I need some air,” she said as she brushed back some moist hair clinging to her forehead.

      The sky was slightly overcast as she left the house by the main door. Clouds passing in front of the moon sent flickering shadows through branches of tall oak trees and across the lawn. The quiet seclusion of the vine-covered gazebo beckoned her. Sitting down on one of the small benches, she kept going over in her mind the disturbing way she’d reacted to Brian Keller.

      It was the darn music. That’s what had made her forget herself. She certainly hadn’t been trying to make time with Joe Keller’s relative. Even now she flushed, remembering the intimate way he had smiled at her. He must have known how much she enjoyed dancing with him. Had he deliberately exploited the situation? Something about him just didn’t ring true. She wanted to know a lot more about him before she let herself accept Brian Keller at face value. He was too damn sexy. And I’m too damn lonely.

      The admission was lost when her ears suddenly were assaulted by a high-pitched wailing. The noise was too abrasive for an infant’s cry, and yet that’s what it resembled.

      What on earth…? Cautiously, she stepped out of the gazebo. As her gaze swept the expanse of lawn and nearby landscaped areas, she couldn’t see anything that might be responsible for the strange cry.

      She stiffened as she remembered the newspaper photo of the murdered nursemaid standing in front of the gazebo, holding the kidnapped baby, in about this very spot.

      Robyn waited for the spine-tingling sound to come again, and when it did, she forced herself to turn in that direction. She caught a flicker of movement in a nearby landscape planting of shrubs, trees and rocks.

      As she came closer, two baby-blue eyes stared at her out of the darkness. At the same moment, wailing that could have been an infant’s cry filled her ears again. She froze and then backed up as a rustling in the middle of the planting increased. Her breath caught when a shadowy form took shape.

      Then she laughed in embarrassment. The blue eyes belonged to Nick’s old cat. She hadn’t seen him around the last few times she’d been at Stoneview.

      The Siamese must be about eleven years old now, Robyn thought as he began stroking her legs with his sleek, arched back. She bent down and petted him.

      “What’s the matter, old fellow? What are you doing, wandering around and wailing? Chasing away evil spirits?”

      Even as the words left her mouth, she wished them back.

      The cat had been lying in the same spot where Heather’s body had been found. Was his high-pitched wailing for the mistress that had been slain there?

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