Black Raven Inn: A Paranormal Mystery (Taryn's Camera Book 6) (23 page)

“
Did
you
hear what I said, Taryn?”

Matt’s voice sounded a thousand miles away, though, and Taryn was struggling to concentrate on it. She’d slept for hours and woke up disoriented, confused by the sound of her telephone. Now she sat in the darkness of her living room, trying to remember what day it was.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Taryn,” Matt’s voice was filled with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m just tired,” she replied, but it was so much more than that. She felt like she was falling apart.

“Did you hear what I said about the review, the one on your portfolio website?”

“Uh huh,” she said. “Yeah.”

But she hadn’t.

“No you didn’t,” Matt said, reading her mind. “If you’d heard me then you would’ve reacted more strongly.”

“I’m sorry, Matt.” Taryn rubbed at her temples and slumped back on her couch. The familiarity of her apartment was soothing but her skin still prickled with a harsh reminder of the fear and peculiarity that had overcome her earlier that day in the motel room.

“The review, the bad one?”

“Yes.” She was listening now, and focusing on his words.

“It came from right there in Nashville,” Matt told her. “There wasn’t a name attached to it but Rob traced the IP address to a computer in Nashville.”

Taryn straightened now, her blood running a little cold. “From here? Well that’s weird. Maybe I pissed off a neighbor or something.”

“Yeah, well, I’d be careful if I were you,” Matt cautioned her. “You seem to have made someone mad, and that someone is close enough to you that it has me worried.”

“It’s just an online bully,” Taryn said lightly, trying her best to shrug it off. “I can handle one of those.”

She wasn’t so sure, though. She didn’t get out much and see anyone regularly enough to make them mad. She hadn’t seen her high school classmates since graduation. Her college friends had all moved on, most out of the city altogether.

She’d obviously upset someone, though, and pretty well at that. Maybe it was time to start watching her back.

“
I
’
m worried about you, honey
,” Ruby said.

Taryn was embarrassed that Ruby was sitting in her disorganized apartment across from her but Ruby looked as comfortable as she did anywhere else.

Still feeling a little rough and out of sorts, Taryn stayed inclined on the sofa. She brought her Sherpa throw up under her chin and clutched it tightly. “I have to finish the paintings,” she said, trying not to let the panic into her voice.

“Sweetie, they’re not that important. I shouldn’t have asked you to do them. I’ve heard stories about that motel for years. I knew what you were walking into,” Ruby moaned, shaking her head. “This is my fault.”

“No, I want to help you. If I stop this now…”

It will be like admitting defeat. This is my purpose now, Taryn thought, seeing these to the end. I can’t quit.

“Aker said the room was unreasonably cold,” Ruby said.

“It felt warm to me.”

“He said you could see things that weren’t there, like the bedding.”

“I’m not crazy,” Taryn muttered, although now she was wondering if she might be headed that way.

“Of course not,” Ruby said soothingly, patting her on the foot. “But you’re sensitive and I knew that and sent you in anyway. Maybe you just need a break.”

Taryn rolled over on her side and raised up on her elbow. “Ruby, did Aker tell you that I needed to quit?”

“He suggested it,” Ruby replied. “He’s just worried about you.”

“Hmmm…Let me ask you something else. Are you positive Aker wasn’t there that night Parker died? Or that Parker was even alone?”

Ruby looked down at her long fingers and picked an invisible piece of lint from them. “I don’t think Aker was there. I think Parker was by himself.”

She’s hiding something
, Taryn thought.
I know it.

Ruby’s phone rang then, saving both women from any further probing. Taryn listened as the color drained from Ruby’s face.

“Is it okay? Is everything still there?”

There was a pause and Taryn watched Ruby’s face fall. “Oh dammit. Are you sure? And outside too?”

Taryn sat up and wrapped the blanket around her. “Is everything okay?” she mouthed.

“Black Raven Inn,” Ruby mouthed back.

Taryn felt herself deflate. Did something happen? Was it still there?

Ruby’s end consisted of a few more questions and then she hung up, her shoulders limp and her face pained.

“Someone broke into the hotel, into Parker’s room,” she explained. “They trashed it. Trashed the little monument outside as well. Aker thinks it was just some kids trying to make some sort of statement.”

“Oh no,” Taryn moaned, thinking of all the posters and picture that had been left in his honor. “That’s  horrible.”

Then she thought of her painting. She’d left the canvas in the room when Aker had taken her to his car. At least he’d gone back for it, at least he’d saved it.

“I’m sorry Ruby,” she said sympathetically.

Ruby nodded dully. “Maybe everyone was right. Maybe I’m just a stupid old woman. I just thought that if…I thought that maybe I’d see him. Maybe I could finally say goodbye. Maybe I’d finally have a doorway to him.”

So that was it
, Taryn thought.
Ruby wasn’t looking for a final goodbye–she was looking to be with him again, however she could get him.

Oh, but if she knew the kind of angry state Parker was in now, she wouldn’t want to be with him. He needed to make the transition into the next world, not wait around and be tied to this one.

Taryn was struck with her own revelation. Andrew was gone. She’d never see him again. He wasn’t going to come back and haunt her. She’d been disappointed that Miss Dixie had never picked up on him, never revealed him to her.

If she was completely honest with herself, she’d admit that she continued to work with the spirits because it was proof of an afterlife, proof that Andrew still existed somewhere and might come back to her.

She no longer wanted him to return to her. She was happy she’d never seen him. She hoped that, wherever he was, he was at peace. Not like Parker. That was far worse than never seeing him again.

Some things were worse than death.

With
a
renewed vigor, Taryn marched around her apartment and picked up stray pieces of clothing and garbage. She’d already done two loads of laundry and was getting ready to do a third. She had clean towels for the first time in weeks. She also had clean dishes and had been able to eat a whole turkey sandwich and cup of tomato soup.

Proud of herself, Taryn even sang a little tune as she walked around. She hurt and was still depressed but there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

She was almost sure it wasn’t a freight train.

When Matt called, she was downright cheerful.

“Taryn, I think you need to stay away from Aker,” he said, stopping her in her tracks.

“What?”

“The bodyguard,” he said. “I got your email about the break in. Think about it, though. You said you were sweating every day and yet he said the room was freezing? What if he was just messing with you? What if he was going in every day and turning on the heat and then tried to convince you that you were crazy?”

Taryn set the clothes basket down and landed in the floor next to it, stunned.

“The hell you say!”

“And you said he got upset at the painting with the shadow?”

“Yeah…”

“What if he got upset because it’s his shadow? Now he’s trying to talk this Ruby out of keeping you on because he knows you’re close to the truth. Think about it, he has complete access to everything you do there.”

Taryn felt the beginning of nausea threaten to overtake her. How could she have been so stupid?

“Oh God, Matt, I think you’re right,” she moaned. “Do you think he…do you think he knows something about Parker? Do you think he’s responsible for his death?”

“I think he saw a window of opportunity,” Matt said. “I think he showed up as Parker was dying and then left, when he should have gotten help.”

“Yeah, but why? What’s the motive?”

“Jealousy. You said Parker had a thing with his ex-wife. What if Aker was also in love with Ruby? Makes sense. He’s been working as her guard for all these years. His ex-wife goes to Parker, the woman he’s obsessed with loves Parker…”

Taryn rubbed at her temple. “But he’s had his chance all these years. Why not make a move on her?”

“Maybe he tried,” Matt replied. “Maybe she rejected him.”

“Then why continue to work with her, to be that close?”

Matt hesitated and then answered, “Because for some men it’s enough just to be close to the woman they love, even if the woman doesn’t love them back.”

He’d waited for her. He’d waited all night. Where
was
she?

It was tonight. He felt good, he was straight. That night in Tucson had been an eye-opener, the sweetest night he’d ever had. He’d wanted more but she’d held out her hand and gently pushed him back. He’d respected that.

Tonight, though, tonight he would tell her.

This was the beginning. This was just the start
.

He hadn’t been that giddy since he was a little boy.

When he heard the footsteps outside the door he straightened and ran his hands through his hair. He could hear her hand on the knob, turning it.

Damn it
, he’d locked the door.

The three feet between the bed and the lock was an eternity. He just wanted her to be there.

He fumbled with the lock for a moment but then it was open and the cool air was rushing in, washing over him. She was in his arms, then, on him before he could catch his breath. Something clinked, a noise that sounded very far away.

The ring
, he thought.
The ring fell.

He closed his eyes.