He flashed a sheepish grin. “I must admit that I did a little speeding.”
“Only a little?” she asked.
“Okay. I did a lot of speeding, because all I could think of was some sick idiot lurking around the property.” He glanced over her at the imposing two-story structure at the end of the curving path. “Is the house always left dark at night now that Paige and LeAnn are staying with St. John?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Anyone passing by would assume it’s unoccupied, and that will only invite trouble.”
“The porch lights are solar-powered, so they come on at dusk and go off at sunrise.”
“That’s still not enough. Hannah should install timers so lamps can come on and go off at different intervals.” The sound of approaching cars caught Gage’s attention. “That must be Mark’s men. I need the key to the main house so they can go through all of the rooms.”
Reaching into her tote, Tonya handed Gage a set of keys to the main house. “I’ll also give you the key to the guesthouses.”
Gage kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.” He returned to where Mark stood with two men holding military-style flashlights. Overhead light from a streetlamp revealed both men had automatic handguns tucked in holsters at the small of their backs.
The three men made their way up the path leading to DuPont House. At the same time another vehicle arrived, and Gage recognized the car as Hannah’s vintage Mercedes-Benz. St. John was driving, and within seconds of the sedan coming to a stop, Hannah was out and running toward him.
“Is she all right?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Tonya.”
He smiled. “Of course she’s all right.”
Hannah looked over her shoulder at her husband. “St. John said something like Tonya was afraid to go inside the house because she thought someone was there.”
St. John strolled over and angled his head at Hannah. “Stop it, sweetheart. You’re just being melodramatic.”
She rounded on him. “But didn’t you say she didn’t want to go into the house?”
He met Gage’s eyes. “I said Gage didn’t want her to go into the house until it was checked out. That’s why I called Mark.”
His explanation appeared to satisfy Hannah, as she blew out her breath. “I’m going over to talk to Tonya.”
Waiting until Hannah was out of earshot, Gage rested a hand on St. John’s shoulder. “I need to talk to you.”
“What do you want to say that you don’t want Hannah to hear?”
“Damn,kezen, I didn’t know you could read minds.”
St. John laughed. “I can’t. It’s just that I believe I know you better than you know yourself. After all, I did watch you grow up.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it,kezen. You’re thirteen years older than me, and that only makes you an older brother.”
“Okay, but as your older brother,cousin, I can see that Tonya has your nose so wide open that you can drive a tractor trailer up it.”
Gage froze. “You know?” he asked after a pregnant silence.
“Come on, Gage. Only someone who’s visually impaired wouldn’t see how you look at the woman. Before I married Hannah you got on me about not going out with women after I broke up with Lorna. I could say the same about you, because you haven’t brought a woman around to any of the family functions since you and Winnie split up.”
“Do me a favor, St. John.”
“What?”
“Please don’t ever mention her name to me again.”
