Fear The Storm (Storm Warning Series Book 1)

by Geri Foster

  She laughed so hard her side hurt. "Those three really keep you on your toes."

  He chuckled. "They're a handful, all right."

  Kendall came in and stood at the end of their booth a shocked expression on her face. "Wow, this is new. You two look like you're enjoying yourselves. I thought about bringing a body bag with me but it looks like I didn’t need it."

  Rachel scooted over, and Kendall slid in beside her. "You missed all the action. Grandma Hope beat up Mr. Burke."

  "Oh, damn, I'd pay to see that."

  Lucas glared at her. "Now, don't you start."

  Chapter 11

  Rachel felt more relaxed than she had in a very long time. It felt good to sit in Gert's Diner with Lucas and Kendall, just like old times. Sadly, Bobby Joe, Kendal's ex-husband wasn't with them. Well, sad that the Bobby Joe they knew growing up wasn’t with them. The two had split five years ago because he drank more and more over the years, getting increasingly violent along with it.

  She'd been single since then, with no children. Rachel worried about her friend's future, since there weren't a lot of eligible men in Rainwater, but Kendall didn't seem to be looking.

  Rachel glanced at Lucas, who'd almost finished his lunch and was eyeing her apple pie. "You're not getting it." She thumbed toward Candi. "You better make up with her. Don't you come here all the time?"

  "Just about," Kendall said.

  "You only say that because you’re here too," Lucas replied. "So, I'm not the only one."

  "But it's you Candi's mad at."

  "Because of the three crazy grandmas," he insisted.

  "Now look here," Kendall said, sitting up straight, "you leave those poor old women alone. They don't bother anyone."

  Rachel held up her hand, "Don't get him back on that."

  Candi brought a piece of pie and placed it in front of him, then she tilted her nose and walked away.

  Kendall eyed the dessert. "Gee, you got lucky."

  Pulling her own pie closer, Rachel teased, "Maybe she'll charge you double.”

  "No way. The owner always gets mad when Lucas pays. Says he’s too valuable to the community to have to buy his own food."

  Lucas just grinned and enjoyed his pie.

  Anxious for any news, Rachel asked, "What did you find out this morning, Lucas? Anything?"

  "I talked to the FBI and I'm going to Dallas tomorrow." He glanced at her. "You're welcome to come, but you won't be allowed in the evidence room."

  "Then why would I go?"

  He shrugged and sliced off another bite of pie. "I don't know. Maybe to get out of town for a few hours."

  "You forget, I live in Dallas. I'm here to get away from there."

  "Okay, I just thought you could come along and we'd have dinner at a nice restaurant."

  "Aw, that sounds like fun," Kendall winked. "A little romance on the side."

  "He wants to get me alone so he can kiss me again without the fear of being shot."

  "Whoa, you two kissed?"

  She lowered her head, "Kind of."

  "Don't make light of it, Rachel." He looked at Kendall, "We're adults, remember?"

  "Yeah, but you're also arch enemies."

  Rachel held up her hands. "It just happened."

  "So, who's going to shoot him?"

  "Grandma Mercy," Lucas supplied. "Came in this morning to warn me off."

  Kendall looked at her. "Does she have a gun?"

  She nodded.

  "Okay, be safe and go to Dallas with him."

  "I'm staying right here. I don't plan on having dinner with him or being kissed again." She nibbled her bottom lip. "I only kissed you back on impulse anyway."

  "Some impulse," Lucas rolled his eyes and muttered, then shoved his empty pie plate aside. "You practically swallowed me whole."

  She was shocked that he'd make a statement like that in front of Kendall, friend or not. When she went to go on the attack, she noticed a glint of humor in his blue eyes, and laughed instead. "You wish, Quinn. You wish."

  "Yes, I do."

  Kendall cleared her throat. "Anything new on the case?" she asked. "Besides you two making out?"

  "We didn't make out. It was only a kiss," she clarified. "More of a peck."

  "Ha," Lucas barked, then he leaned across the table. "Want a do over?"

  Kendall put her hands between them. "The case." She snapped her fingers. "The case. Come on, guys. Rachel leaves soon, and we will have accomplished nothing."

  "Okay," he began. "I'm at the FBI tomorrow," glancing at her, "you're welcome to come."

  "Anything else?" she asked.

  "I want to talk to the clerk that worked at the bank during the heist. Nancy’s recently been let go by the bank, they say because of her age, so she might be in the mood to talk."

  Rachel wrinkled her brow. "Is she that old?"

  "No," Kendall stated. "She’s barely fifty. Mr. Burke has his eyes on a cute, young thing from Denton. Heard she's moving into town this weekend."

  "Rented the Morrison's garage apartment," Lucas added.

  "I'm glad Grandma Hope smacked him with those cans of peaches."

  "What peaches?" Kendall asked.

  After wiping his mouth with a napkin, Lucas explained, "The ones in her bag."

  "She's walking around with cans of fruit in her purse? She could kill someone."

  Lucas crossed his arms and smirked at her. "I rest my case."

  * * *

  After lunch, Rachel and Lucas stood outside Nancy Wigan's house and rang the doorbell. When she answered, a wide, familiar grin stretched across her chubby face. "Good afternoon, Sheriff. Rachel. When did you come to town?"

  Nancy had twenty-five years on Rachel, and the way she dressed, one would guess more.

  "I'm in town for Grandma Mercy's birthday."

  "Oh, come in. I plan to attend the party too. Always did love the sisters. Such kind ladies."

  Lucas muttered something beneath his breath that Rachel couldn't make out. Nancy showed them into the living room of her deceased parents’ old home. It had three running rooms—a living room and dining room with the kitchen behind that.

  They sat on a couch that was a lovely dark purple with bright yellow cushions that looked like Nancy had made them herself. Their hostess lowered herself onto a large, overstuffed, flowered chair, with croqueted doilies draped over the armrests.

  There was an old-fashioned coffee table with spindle legs and a bowl of artificial fruit in the center. The room was painted an off-colored beige with paisley wallpaper trim near the ceiling.

  Nancy had never married and obviously she didn't make enough money working at the bank to redecorate the house she'd inherited. Looking at her short pageboy hairstyle, her tweed skirt and silk blouse with a big bow at the collar, Rachel realized Nancy and the house were both trapped in the past.

  "What can I do for you two?" she asked sweet as a Georgia peach. "Perhaps something to drink?" She fluffed her hair, "I don't get a lot of company. It's always such a pleasure." Relaxing back in her chair, she got comfortable for a long conversation. "Now, mother was another story. She had the bridge club, the women's lodge, and the town decorating committee to keep her occupied."

  In other words, Nancy didn't have anything going on in her life. Rachel's heart went out to her. So sad to be alone. She wondered why she'd never married but, then, as an only child, she might have felt too devoted to her loving parents.

  "My mama's much the same way," Lucas said. "She keeps so busy. You should drop by and see her sometime."

  Nancy brightened. "That's a wonderful idea. I might do that."

  "She'd love visiting with you."

  "Yes, your mother always was so kind and friendly. Likes almost everyone in town."

  Rachel cleared her throat. "Lucas tells me that you no longer work at the bank. I thought you'd be there until retirement age." She smiled to make sure Nancy didn't get offended.

  Nancy's smile melted like chocolate on a hot day. "No, I have a
good many years yet to go. I did manage to get a part-time job at the library, but it barely pays enough for groceries. I might have to go to Denton to find work."

  "Why did Mr. Burke let you go? Everyone in town loves you, Miss Wigan," Lucas asked. "I don't even like to go in the bank with you not there to assist me. My parents feel the same way."

  Tears glistened in Nancy’s warm brown eyes. "That's wonderful of you to say, Lucas. I loved working at the bank." She gestured with her hand. "Why, it was my life. I couldn't imagine doing anything else." Turning aside, she admitted, "Imagine my surprise when my drawer came up a dollar short and Mr. Burke told me I was getting too old to keep the money straight."

  "Do you remember making a mistake?" Rachel asked. "Were you confused?"

  Nancy straightened and puffed out her chest. "Let me tell you, I'm as sharp as a tack, and don't let no one tell you differently.” She frowned and shook her head. “My drawer wasn't short."

  "You think Mr. Burke wrongly accused you?" Lucas asked, but Rachel suspected he already knew the answer. "Did he take the dollar out of your drawer?"

  "I don't have any idea if it was even missing. He refused to let me count it again. All I know is, at the end of the day, when the doors were locked, I balanced. Just like every day before."

  Rachel reached out and squeezed Nancy's hand. "I'm so sorry."

  "I'll be fine, dear. I know he wanted to get rid of me. I saw that young secretary he hired. Doesn't have a brain cell in her head."

  Lucas cleared his throat. "I don't think he's looking for that.” He maneuvered his Stetson between his hands. "We were wondering if we could talk to you about the incident involving Rachel's dad's arrest."

  Nancy put her hand to her mouth as her eyes widened. "Oh, that was so horrible." She pleated her hands in her lap and shook her head. "Such a shame."

  Rachel propped her arms on her thighs, leaning forward. "Do you think my dad did it? Stole from the bank?”

  Nancy shook her head, "No, I don't, and I never did. That's why they didn't want me on the stand. They were afraid I'd sway the jury."

  "And how could you do that, Miss Wigan?"

  "None of what they were saying made any sense. They claim that Jim made a fake account, kept it hidden and deposited money into it."

  "Isn't that what happened?"

  "If it did, then where did the money come from? There wasn't any money missing from our customer accounts. At least, none that came forward. And when I ran a report on withdrawals, I couldn’t find anything that wasn’t accounted for."

  Rachel didn't understand and, by the expression on Lucas's face, he didn't either. "You told the FBI that?"

  "No, I told Vice President Spears and he talked it over with President Burke. The FBI never asked me for anything other than a statement that I didn't see anything to confirm Jim Snyder took money from the bank."

  "My dad’s attorney never questioned you?"

  She shook her head, "No, he just took a copy of the statement and that was it." She lowered her head and picked at her nails. "At the time, I was glad they didn't drag me into that mess. I didn't want people staring at me, but as the trial went on and I began hearing things, I wish they had asked me."

  "But you didn't say anything?" Lucas asked.

  "Well, Mr. Spears and Mr. Burke knew I had my suspicions. I also told Sheriff Townson. He told me he'd relay the message to the FBI attorneys and, if they needed anything else, they'd let me know." She looked at Rachel. "I never heard a word."

  "What did you tell the Sheriff?" Lucas asked.

  "That it was impossible for Mr. Snyder to have taken money from the bank because there wasn't any missing money to take."

  * * *

  While Rachel and Lucas paid Nancy Wigan a visit, Kendall went to see Jeanette Spears. Since her parents were such good friends of the Vice President, Lucas thought if his wife knew anything, she'd be more likely to share it with her than anyone else.

  So, she ran to her mom's house and grabbed a loaf of cinnamon bread out of the freezer and threw it in the microwave. As she watched the loaf slowly spin around, her mom came in. "What are you doing here? You have lunch yet?"

  "Yes, I just need a loaf of your bread." She crossed her arms and glanced at her over her shoulder. "The freezer is full of them. How many do you make at a time?"

  Her mom came into the kitchen and placed a paper sack full of groceries on the counter. She began unloading the food and putting the items away. "I don't know. Sometimes ten, others twelve. People love it, so anytime I need a loaf, I have several in reserve.” Her mom eyed the microwave. “You're ruining it by putting it in there. Use the oven."

  "I don't care, this is just a way to get inside Jeanette Spears' house."

  "What?"

  "I want to talk to her and this should get me in the door."

  "You could simply call, ask her if she's available for coffee and then go knock on the door." Her mom scowled. "Kendall, you never do anything the simple way."

  "Everything in my life is simple. My car is simple, my apartment is simple." She held out her oversized top, "Even my clothes are simple."

  Her mom reared back. "What's got you so riled up? You get a grouchy client today?"

  "No, all my customers were fine." She leaned back against the counter. "You heard Rachel and her mother are in town for Grandma Mercy's birthday?"

  "I heard at the grocery store. I think I might go over and see Shirley. It's been years." Heading for the refrigerator with a carton of milk, her mom paused. "Did you see Rachel?"

  "Yes. I had lunch with her and Lucas today." She chewed the nail on her right thumb. "I think they still love each other."

  "That's not hard to believe. They were inseparable before Jim went to jail."

  "He didn't go to jail, Mom. He went to prison. It destroyed Rachel and her mom’s lives."

  "I know that, Kendall." She felt her mom’s hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong, sweetheart. You aren't thinking about you and Bobby Joe are you? That's not healthy."

  She moved away, not wanting to get into that conversation again. She’d heard the same thing for years. "You don't have to worry about me going back to him, that's completely over."

  "Is it?"

  "Yes, I don't love him anymore. I did once, but he's ruined that. The last time I left, I promised myself I'd never go back."

  "Good, he was abusive. I'm surprised your dad didn't kill the fool. I'll never forget the day you walked in here with that black eye. Your daddy saw red."

  If her parents had only known the extent of the violence in that relationship they would've had her committed. Bobby Joe was a handsome, crazy, fun-loving rascal that she had worshiped. But, he had an ugly side. When fueled by liquor it always turned dangerous.

  During their last fight, if Lucas hadn't busted into their house and beat the crap out of Bobby Joe, she'd probably be dead. That night, Lucas took her out of the house and warned her that Bobby Joe had the ability, the desire, and the conviction to kill her. That message hurt, deep and stabbing, but she knew by the scared look on Lucas' face that he told her the truth. A truth she needed to hear and heed.

  Lucas went by and got her things for her and she never returned. No matter how much Bobby Joe begged and pleaded and promised to change, she didn't relent this time. Now, when she thought of Bobby Joe and her, Lucas' words ran through her mind like a recorder.

  She knew, with enough liquor, Bobby Joe could kill her.

  Taking a deep breath, she turned to her mom. "I know marrying Bobby Joe was a big mistake. Taking him back would be a bigger one. I won't go back to that."

  Her mom reached out and squeezed her tightly. She was lucky. People loved her, and that made getting out of a violent relationship easier.

  "All we want is you happy."

  "I'm working on that, Mom. I really am."

  Holding her out to get a good look at her, her mom smiled. "You'll get there. Life is good."

  The microwave dinged and, as she tried to take
out the bread barehanded, it was too hot. Noticing her dilemma, her mom opened the fridge and took out a fresh loaf. "Here, take this. I was going to take it to my bridge club tonight, I'll take some crackers and cheese instead."

  "Thanks." She smiled and turned to leave.

  "What do you want to talk to Jeanette about?"

  She stopped and looked down at the loaf of bread in her hand wrapped in fancy bright right paper. Busted. Testing the waters, she asked, "Do you think Jim Snyder stole from the bank?"

  Silence filled the small, cozy kitchen.

  Finally, her mom answered. "No, he wouldn't ever do anything dishonest or illegal. It's not in him. We grew up together. We went to school together and were in the same classes. Nothing some judge and jury can say will change my mind about Jim Snyder."

  "Then how did it happen?" she turned back to her mom. "Why is Jim in prison? How did they steal his life away?"

  "Is that why you're going to Jeanette's? I don't think she knows anything. Neither does her husband." Her mom turned to the stove. "Trust me, if either of them could've helped him, they would have. They’re good people."

  "But not friends of Rachel's mom and dad?"

  "Well, Robert got Jim the job."

  "A job he didn't really need. He was doing rather nicely at the freight company."

  Her mom nodded. "He was a good accountant. I'm sure that's why Robert wanted him."

  "You don't think he had another motive?"

  Her mom spun around so fast she nearly stumbled. "What? God no!" she pressed her palm to her chest. "Never in a million years."

  "But still, he was the one who fired the previous accountant to make room for Jim."

  "Because he was good. Very good and would have been a great asset to the bank. And he offered him more money." She clasped her hands. "There's nothing dishonest about Robert. He's a good man. And if you're going to see his wife over this, then don't waste your time embarrassing me and your dad."

  Kendall didn't want to say anything else because it wasn't beyond her mom to call her friend to explain things before she got there. She had no choice but to lighten the mood. "No, I'm not going there to do that. I want her to give me an interview for the newspaper."