Raintree Read online

  The older lady at the bookstore had seen a woman with long blond hair walking very briskly—just short of running—away from the apartment building at exactly the right time. The long blond hair and the timing were enough to at least loosely tie the shooting to Sherry Bishop’s murder. But what lay behind the crimes? It was a question Hope had no answer for.

  “Sorry about your car,” Gideon said. “It’ll be safe in the Hilton parking lot until morning. We’ll get someone out there then.”

  The shooting and the resulting investigation, and then a couple of hours spent in the office they shared scanning unsolved murders outside the Wilmington area that were similar to Sherry Bishop’s, had delayed them until it was too late to call a mechanic. Gideon Raintree was driving her to her mother’s place. He had a thin stack of files he was taking home with him to look over later. He was hoping he would see something new if he had a fresh look.

  Hope had to admit that Raintree certainly appeared to be motivated by something other than greed. Was it possible that he was truly as devoted to his job as he appeared to be? Maybe his parents’ murders had inspired him and there were no secrets waiting to be uncovered. No betrayal waiting to surprise her.

  Meanwhile, she was exhausted and happy to be headed home, which at the moment was her mother’s apartment over The Silver Chalice, a New Age shop Rainbow Malory owned and operated in downtown Wilmington. Of course, Rainbow was not the name Hope’s mother had been given at birth. Her real name was Mary. A nice, solid, normal name, Mary. But at the age of sixteen Mary had become Rainbow, and Rainbow she remained.

  To Hope’s horror, Gideon parked at the curb and killed the engine.

  “Thanks,” Hope said, exiting the Mustang quickly and doing her best to dismiss her partner. Gideon Raintree was not easily dismissed. He left the driver’s seat and followed her. Luckily The Silver Chalice was two blocks from the parking space Gideon had found. “We had this discussion, Raintree,” she said sharply. “Would you have walked Leon home?”

  “If someone shot at him, yes,” he responded.

  “Someone was shooting at you, not me.”

  “Prove it.”

  True enough, she couldn’t prove anything. As her mother’s shop grew nearer, she straightened her spine and sighed. “This is fine. Thanks.”

  “Is the shop still open?”

  Hope glanced at her watch. In the summertime, the shop’s hours were extended to suit the tourists. “Yeah, but I can’t imagine there’s anything in the store that would interest you.”

  “You don’t have any idea what might interest me.”

  She had spent two days in this man’s company, and she didn’t know him at all, she realized. Hope reached the shop entrance and placed her hand on the door handle. “Don’t tell my mother that someone shot at us,” she said softly as she opened the door and the bell above her head chimed.

  The Silver Chalice sold crystals and incense and jewelry made by local artisans. There was a display of tarot cards and runes for sale, as well as a collection of colorful silk scarves and hand-carved wooden boxes. The jewelry kept The Silver Chalice in business, but it was the New Age items that Rainbow Malory embraced. Strange, slightly off-key singing—meditation music, her mother called it—drifted from speakers overhead as Hope entered.

  Rainbow looked up from her place at the counter and grinned widely. She was still very attractive at fifty-seven, though the streaks of gray in her dark hair gave away her age, as did the gentle smile lines in her face. She didn’t color her hair or wear any makeup. Or a bra.

  “Who’s your friend?” Rainbow asked as she stepped from behind the counter. Her full, colorful skirt hung to the floor, the hem dancing around comfortable sandals.

  “This is my partner, Gideon Raintree,” Hope said. “He wanted to look around, but he can’t stay.”

  Hope watched as her mother became as entranced as every other woman who discovered Gideon for the first time. Her back got a little straighter. Her smile brightened. And then she said, “You have the most beautiful aura I’ve ever seen.”

  Hope closed her eyes in utter embarrassment. She would never hear the end of this. Gideon would tell the other detectives over breakfast that Hope Malory’s mother was into auras and crystals and tarot cards. She waited for the laughter to start, but instead of laughing, Gideon said, “Thank you.”

  Hope opened her eyes and glanced up at him. He didn’t look as if he was kidding. In fact, he looked quite serious and at home here, as he began to study the merchandise on the shelves. “This is nice,” he said. “Interesting products, pleasant atmosphere…”

  “Atmosphere is so important. I try to fill my shop with positive energy at all times,” Rainbow said.

  Again Hope wanted to shrink away, but her partner didn’t seem at all put off or amused. “I’ll bet the tourists love this shop,” he said. “It’s a peaceful place.”

  “Why, thank you,” Rainbow responded. “That’s so astute of you. Of course, I knew as soon as I saw your aura…”

  Not auras again. “Mom, don’t talk Raintree’s ear off. He has to go, anyway. He’s got things to do tonight.”

  “Not really,” he said casually. “I want to take another look at those files, but I need a little time away from them first.”

  She glared at him, but he ignored her as he continued to study the merchandise. If they were going to be partners, he would have to learn to take a hint.

  “Join us for supper,” Rainbow said, a new excitement in her voice. “I’ll be closing up in twenty minutes, and there’s stew in the Crock-Pot. There’s more than enough for the three of us. You look hungry,” she added in a motherly tone of voice.

  To Hope’s absolute horror, Gideon accepted her mother’s invitation.

  No two women could be more dissimilar. Where Hope was openly wary and more often than not tied up in knots, her mother was open and relaxed. They looked a little alike, as mothers and daughters often did, but beyond that, it was hard to believe that they’d ever lived in the same house, much less shared DNA.

  Dinner was thick beef stew and homemade bread. Simple, but tasty. Gideon steered clear of the television set in the living room, and took the chair that placed him as far away from the stove and microwave as possible. He did his best to keep any electrical surges low and controlled.

  Obviously Hope wanted him to eat and get out as quickly as possible. She fidgeted; she cast decidedly uncomfortable glances his way. She was clearly embarrassed by her mother’s beliefs and openness. What would his new partner say if she knew that Gideon believed in everything her mother embraced? And more. He could make her suffer and stay on after the meal was done, but Gideon did Hope a favor and declined dessert and coffee when they were offered. He said thanks and good-night, to his partner’s obvious relief.

  Rainbow remained in her little apartment, humming and cleaning the kitchen, and Hope walked with Gideon down the stairs.

  “Sorry,” she said softly when they were halfway down the stairway. “Mom’s a little flaky, I know. She means well, but she never outgrew her hippie phase.”

  “Don’t apologize. I like her. She’s different, but she’s also very nice.” Man, did he know about being odd man out. “Different isn’t always a bad thing.”

  “Yeah,” Hope said with an audible scoff. “Try to believe that when your mother shows up for career day to talk about selling crystals and incense, and ends up heckling the CEO dad for ruining the environment and selling out to the corporate man.”

  Gideon couldn’t help himself. He laughed.

  “Trust me, you wouldn’t think it was so funny if she told your first real boyfriend that he had a muddy aura and really needed to meditate in order to boost his positive energy.”

  “Positive energy is a good thing,” Gideon said as they reached the shop, where the lights had been dimmed when Rainbow locked the door for the night.

  “You don’t have to patronize me,” Hope said sharply. “I know my mother is odd and flaky and just pl