He lifted his hand when she came through the door, and she headed his way. She slung her bag over the back of the chair and started to turn toward the counter, but he caught her by the wrist.
“I already spoke to Bonnie. She’s about to get off work, and she’ll join us.”
She didn’t pull away from his touch, and the skin-to-skin connection heightened the attraction between them. He knew she felt the tension zinging between them as much as he did.
“Chief Hardy?”
Reid let go of Jane at Bonnie’s appearance. “Have a seat.”
Bonnie’s brown eyes held trepidation as she slung her purse over her chair and settled in. “What’s wrong now?” She chewed on her thumbnail.
Jane pulled out her phone and handed it to Bonnie. “I found these pictures in that manila envelope you mentioned. Have you ever seen them before? Do you have any idea who might have taken them?”
Bonnie took the phone and scrolled through the photos. She inhaled and shuddered. “Someone was secretly watching me.”
“Looks that way,” Jane said.
Bonnie continued to swipe. “I was right. He broke up with me to protect me. That big guy threatened him?”
“Walter says he was just delivering a package. I don’t think he was the threat.” Jane leaned forward. “Do you know who might have been watching you? Did you see anyone?”
Bonnie handed back the phone, then clutched herself. “This creeps me out. I don’t know who could have been watching me. I never saw a thing.”
“Tell me exactly what Keith said when he broke up with you.”
“He said it wasn’t fair to me that he was gone so much. That he wanted me to have a good life, a happy life. He said to be careful when I started to date other guys, that not everyone was who they seemed. That was the comment that made me think he might be trying to protect me.”
Tears flooded Bonnie’s eyes and trickled down her cheeks. She swiped at them and sniffled. Jane dug in her bag and handed her a tissue. Reid exchanged a glance with her while Bonnie composed herself.
He saw the frustration in Jane’s eyes. Where did they go from here? “Can you trace who might have processed these pictures?”
Her eyes lit. “Let me ask Nora if there are any identifying marks.” Jane shot off a quick text.
“Am I in danger?” Bonnie asked in a small voice.
“I don’t think so. I believe it was used as leverage over Keith. Someone was trying to get him not to report what he knew. Now that he’s gone, I doubt they’re watching you. But until I solve the case, keep your doors locked and be aware of your surroundings.”
Bonnie nodded but seemed even more scared. Her gaze darted to the window. “I think I’ll go home unless you have any more questions.”
“That’s all. If you remember anything else, give me a call.” Jane slid a card across the table to her. “And try not to worry, Bonnie. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Someone wanted to shut up Keith awfully bad,” Bonnie said. “He tried to save me. I’ll never forget that.” Her voice choked off, and her throat moved in a convulsive swallow. She rose and grabbed her purse from the back of the chair, then rushed from the building.
Jane exhaled and sank back in her seat. She took a sip of her iced coffee, then set it back on the table. “I scared her half to death. She’ll be peeking around every corner.”
“Maybe that’s for the best. We don’t want another casualty.” He reached over and took her hand, which was cool from the iced coffee. “You’re a good detective, Jane. I like watching you work.”
Her cheeks reddened, and she drew her hand back. “You’d better go get Will. He’ll be waiting for you.”
She hadn’t rebuffed him, not with any real malice.
He rose and grabbed his coffee. “Call me if you need anything.”
She nodded but didn’t answer. He’d take it. He could have stayed longer if he’d told her Will’s coach was dropping him off, but it was better not to push. And he just might surprise his son with a home-cooked meal.
* * *
Will sniffed the air when he entered the house. “Whoa, Dad, shrimp and grits.” He grabbed a paper towel and mopped his sweaty brow. “Practice was brutal in the heat.”
His face was still red from baseball practice, and sweat soaked his tee. The constant sunshine had turned him as brown as a pecan. Pelican Harbor High School had made it into the baseball play-offs.
Reid stirred the cheese into the grits. “Did you thank Coach for dropping you off?”
“It was his girlfriend, but yes, I remembered my manners. I’m not a kid, Dad! I wish you’d quit treating me like one.”
“Sorry. I’ll try to do better.”
Will snagged a piece of shrimp from the plate and popped it into his mouth. “I’m starved. When will it be ready?”
“Right now.” Reid mixed everything together and slid the skillet contents into a bowl. “Grab the plates and we can eat.” He glanced at the clock. “You’re a little late.”
Will got down two plates, then hesitated. “I don’t suppose you invited Mom to join us? I was surprised to see the two of you together at lunch.”
“I think she was ready to kick me to the curb by the time the day was over.”
Will winced. “That bad?”
“Kind of. Don’t get your hopes up for normalcy.” He followed Will to the table by the window and set down the food, but someone pounded on the front door. Hard enough to make the window rattle.
Reid pointed. “Upstairs.”
Oh wait. Maybe it was Lauren back for another round, which was another good reason to get Will out of the way. Lauren was a wild card in every way.
Will was heading for the stairs, but he swung back to face Reid, who was nearly to the door. “It’s Mom.”
Reid frowned as he got close enough to see out the door panes. Sure enough, Jane’s narrowed eyes peered through the glass. What could have her in such a state?
He threw open the door. “What’s going on?”
She had to have been home long enough to change because she wore khaki shorts and a red tee that set off her tanned skin and hazel eyes.
She waved a sheet of paper in the air. “This was on the windshield of my vehicle.” Her voice shook and tears hung on her lashes.
He caught a light scent of vanilla as she pushed past him into the living room with Parker on her heels. She thrust the paper into his hand, and he stared down at the block words.
STOP OR WILL DIES.
A spasm seized his chest. “Stop the investigation? Is that what this means?”
“What else could it be? The guy threatened Bonnie to get Keith to back off. Same tactics.”
She raked her shaking hand through her brown hair and went to pull Will into an embrace. He didn’t resist and melted into a close hug with her face tucked into the crook of his neck.
“You’re okay,” she muttered.
“Sure. I’m fine.” Will peered over his mother’s shoulder. “What’s the note say?”
No sense in trying to hide it from him. They’d have to make sure Will took extra precautions. Reid held it up so Will could read it.
Will’s mouth drew down, and he pulled away from Jane. “I’m not afraid of a coward who would write something like that.”
“Well, I am!” Jane pressed her lips together and snatched the note from Reid’s hand. “I’ll turn the investigation over to Augusta.”
She practically fell onto the sofa and lowered her head between her legs. “I’m going to be sick.” Parker whined and nudged her hand, but she drew in a shuddering breath.
Reid leaped forward and pushed her head farther down. “Take a deep breath. Will, grab a wet paper towel for the back of her neck.” He patted her back as Will ran for the kitchen. “That’s it, deep breaths. Will is fine. We’ll make sure he stays that way.”
But could they? And watching her extreme reaction to the threat sent a tsunami of emotion through him. What must it be like for her
to realize she’d missed out on so much and then be faced with a threat of losing future days as well? He itched to put his fist through the face of whoever had been cowardly enough to threaten a kid.
What were they going to do?
Will returned with a wet paper towel and plopped onto the sofa beside her. He pressed it against the back of her neck. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m not going anywhere. I’m fine.”
She took several more deep breaths, then sat back and took the paper towel from her neck. Swiping it over her face, she managed a smile. “I panicked when I read that. I was so afraid I’d get here and find the place enveloped in flames or maybe discover you were missing.”
Everything in Reid wanted to sit by her and pull her onto his lap, but she’d push him away. “I’ll get you some juice.” Reid left Will to comfort her and grabbed orange juice from the fridge. He poured it into a glass and carried it back to the living room.
Her fingers curled around the glass, and she took a big slug of juice. “Thanks.” She stared into the glass as if it held the answer to all her questions. “I can ask the state police for help.”
“I’m not sure that will satisfy the killer. He wants the investigation stopped altogether. I could send Will to stay with friends in New Orleans.”
“Not far enough,” she said.
Will stood and braced his hands on his hips. “Hey, I’m right here. I’m not going to New Orleans. I’ve got a big game this Saturday. No way would I desert my teammates.”
Jane stared up at him. “Dad would take him. No one will get past the gates easily, and Dad could beef up the security with more cameras.”
“But school is going to be a problem. And baseball. You’re shorthanded and wouldn’t be able to provide security.”
“Dad could call in some favors.”
A thousand thoughts raced through Reid’s brain. He had to protect his son somehow, but it wouldn’t be easy. The fact Jane was willing to turn over the investigation to the state showed how much she loved Will. She wouldn’t walk away from her duties easily.
He became aware of both Jane’s and Will’s intent stares, and he nodded. “Talk to your dad. We need to figure out who’s behind this and fast. We won’t be able to rest until we get the killer behind bars.”
Nine
No lights illuminated the perimeter around her dad’s house, probably to deter a shooter.
Tremors shuddered down Jane’s spine at the thought. She turned off the SUV and exhaled before she climbed out of the vehicle into the night sounds of katydids and cicadas. The mossy scent from the woods blew toward her on the breeze.
Reid got out and went around to raise the lift gate. “Good of your dad to suggest we all stay.”
Somehow Jane would bear being around Reid if it meant safety for Will. They could take turns keeping an eye on the perimeter cameras, though Dad assured her an alarm would sound if anyone attempted to breach the fencing. And if they needed to, they could head to the bunker. Not even a tank could get through the steel enclosure.
This was the safest place for Will.
Reid took his suitcase in one hand and Jane’s in the other as Will and Parker joined him. Will grabbed his suitcase and headed for the porch with an eager smile. Parker ran for the woods like usual.
Jane waved away the mosquitoes buzzing around her face. “I can take my own suitcase.”
“I’ll carry it. You can open the door and direct me on where to put them.”
She didn’t bother arguing and rushed ahead to hold the door.
Her dad met her on the top step. “Your old room is ready, and Will can share with Reid in the guest room on the attic floor. I thought that might be safest. An intruder would have to go through the whole house to get to him.”
“But it’s also farthest from the bunker.”
“Not really. I installed a secret staircase from up there. I’ll show you all later. There’s one in your bedroom too.” He waggled shaggy white eyebrows. “You know how I like to be prepared.”
She brushed past him into the entry and headed for the stairs. “Third floor,” she called to Reid. “I’ll join you as soon as I drop off my luggage.”
Her bedroom was the first one on the right at the top of the stairs. She dumped her suitcase just inside the door and turned to follow the guys up the back staircase to the third floor. She used to curl up and read here as a teenager. It had been a magical place full of trunks and hidden treasures in the drawers of old furniture. She hadn’t realized her dad had turned it into bedroom space.
The steps were narrow and steep, but the ceilings were high. She exited onto the hardwood floors in the bright light cast from modern can lights in the newly finished walls. Two queen beds and dressers barely took up a fraction of the huge square footage. There would be plenty of room for both Reid and Will up here. They could even move the beds around and have space for a seating area with a TV. Not that they’d be here long enough for redecorating. At least, she hoped to have the perp behind bars soon.
She went to the big windows overlooking the drive and pulled back the blackout curtains to peer into the dark night. “Any disturbances since I called?”
“Nope.” Her dad twitched the curtain back into place. “But let’s don’t tempt fate. Come with me, all of you.” He led them to a wall of bookshelves along the opposite wall tucked into a nook to the left of the stairway. “Here’s the stairway to the bunker. See that?” He pointed out what appeared to be a copy of Orwell’s 1984. “Just pull it toward you.”
He pulled on the top of the “book” and the bookcase slid back into the wall. The first few feet of a small staircase barely big enough for Reid’s shoulders came into view. The darkness swallowed up the rest from their sight.
“Is there a light?” Jane asked.
Her dad nodded and reached inside to flip a switch that revealed the way down. “And you close it behind you by pressing this button of the wall beside the light. Make sure to close it if you have to use it, to delay any attacker.”
She shivered at the thought of having to race down those stairs with a killer on their heels. “Will, you try it. You too, Reid. Make sure you know how it works.”
The guys opened and closed the door several times, and when it worked perfectly, she began to relax. “I’ll leave you to unpack, and I’ll do the same. See you downstairs in a bit.”
Her father grunted and followed her down the steps to the second floor. He put his hand on her arm when she turned toward her room. “How credible is this threat to the boy?”
“Pretty high on the scale. Someone knows I’ve been asking questions and doesn’t like it. He’s already killed once. If it would hide his plan, I doubt he’d hesitate to do it again.”
Her dad’s hazel eyes, so like her own, studied her face. “You really think it’s terrorists?”
“I don’t know. Something’s off about the whole thing. All I know is that I can’t lose Will. Thank you for taking him in.”
“He’s my grandson. I don’t want to lose him either.” He withdrew his hand. “I’ll put out some beignets and milk. Come to the kitchen when you’re unpacked.”
Maybe in the meantime she could steel herself to keep from staring at Reid. Being around him had proved challenging today, and it wasn’t likely to get any better.
* * *
The dark outside the window felt like it hid a thousand dangers.
Reid washed the beignets’ powdered sugar from his hands in the kitchen sink. Charles and Will were playing chess, a game Reid had never understood. His son was eating up the attention from his grandfather, and the sight caused war to rage in Reid’s heart. He wanted the best for his boy, but Charles had walked away from Will without a second thought.
At least it appeared that way.
He felt Jane enter the kitchen. Her light vanilla scent wafted toward him, and he dried his hands on the towel before he faced her. “Which watch shift do you want to take?”
She had taken a shower, and the heat and mois
ture left vibrant color in her cheeks. She’d pulled her hair back in a headband that made her look like a teenager, and her yoga pants and tee showed off her toned yet curvy figure. He glimpsed the girl she’d been fifteen years ago. That girl had been timid and compliant, though, and this woman was strong and focused.
Her hazel eyes narrowed. “What?”
“You’re a warrior,” he blurted out. “I never would have guessed that Button would throw off the mantle of servitude and become so resourceful. You’re amazing.”
More color washed up her neck, probably from hearing that unfamiliar nickname from the cult she’d left so long ago. It was hard to believe they’d once been “married” by his dad, though hardly legal. She’d been a mere fourteen to his eighteen. Kids, really, both of them.
“I don’t think I made the transformation until I went to college. My dad would have kept me under his thumb forever, but I knew I’d die there like a slug never allowed to see the light of day. But even still, I doubt myself. Tonight especially. Can I keep my own son safe?” She blinked and turned to grab a glass of lemonade from the fridge.
“We’ll do everything we can, but Jane, it’s out of our control. Any semblance of control we have is false. Life happens. Bad things happen. The good thing is that happiness is not about this life.”
She pressed her lips together. “See, that’s what I don’t get about people like you and Olivia. How can you face evil and death with such peace? Wouldn’t Will’s death devastate you?”
His stomach cramped in a painful grip. “Beyond devastation. I’d never be the same. But Will is a believer, and I know I would see him again. There’s comfort and peace in that.”
She shook her head. “I could never live with myself if I let anything happen to him.”
The condemnation in her voice stung a little. “I understand where you’re coming from. We parents all struggle with that same thing. We want nothing to ever trouble our kids, nothing bad to ever touch them. You’re wrong if you think I don’t wrestle with that. I’d take a bullet for him. In the early days after we left the cult, I second-guessed what I’d done. How could I keep this little guy safe and even fed? How did I believe I had anything to offer him but hardship?”
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