“What’s your latest gig about?” Lexi asked, obviously intrigued.
“I covered the upheaval near Atlanta. It was pretty intense, enough that I’m thinking I’ll stay close to home for a while. Maybe do a stint working for a newspaper.”
“Wow, sounds adventurous.” Lexi shook her head. “And here I just play with computers.”
Jenna flipped her hair then smiled at a man sitting at the next table. A bit younger, she also wore jeans, and a low-cut t-shirt. “This is great. I so needed to relax tonight.” With a coquettish tilt to her head, she swiped her tongue along her bottom lip. An invitation. “I don’t get out to socialize much, so I really appreciate this.”
“It’s a bit crowded, but I like it anyway. It’s cozy.” Abby hadn’t expected many customers and was surprised at the number of couples on the small dance floor. She wondered how many carried a badge and gun.
Country music blared from overhead speakers, originating from the jukebox by the door before a change in tempo brought an upsurge beat. The current song detailed troubled relationships and revenge, a definite switch from the traditional Irish lyrics previously piped through the speakers.
Chair legs scraping nearby turned the girls’ attention to the two men snaking their way toward them.
“Hello, ladies.” The taller man in front resembled a linebacker. Thick shoulders narrowed to a trim waist, but a slight beer belly bulged over his jeans. Turning his attention to Abby, he asked, “How about a dance?”
“No, thank you.” Not since law school had she been out with this large a group of women. She found security in numbers, yet a doubt niggled at the back of her mind. Her would-be killer had been careful to date in not leaving evidence despite changing his MO with each attempt. If he grew impatient, a room full of semi-sober patrons might provide the perfect cover for another run at her.
Without hesitation, Katt stood and faced the hulkish man. “She’s spoken for, but I love to dance.”
Most people underestimated Katt. A delicate bone structure, waist-length hair, and a sweet smile disguised a mind whose speed of thought competed with the electronics she loved. After earning her degree and private investigator’s license, she’d turned her talents to building a business and joining forces with the family’s resident hacker, Lexi.
The second man turned his attention to Mitzie. “Would you do me the honor?” A certain sleaziness leached from his gaze, matched by the tone of his request.
“No thanks. I’m just here to enjoy time with my friends.” Mitzie shuffled her chair a little closer to the table in turning down the advance.
“I’ll dance.” Not waiting, Jenna jumped up and held out her hand expectantly. It was unfortunate that some young women lacked the caution earned from experience. When her partner slid his arm low on her back, she sidled closer and smiled up at him.
“Ten to one odds—Katt knows everything there is to know about that guy before she returns. But please don’t tell me she’s gonna pick his pocket. I came here to relax.”
“Fun is what tonight is all about.” Mitzie held her glass up for a toast. “To hell with men and their diabolical plans.” A puzzled glance at the dance floor and she looked expectantly at Abby. “Katt is a pickpocket? Has she been arrested before?”
“No. she just has a curious mind and the determination to see her theories through,” Lexi supplied. “She’s actually a private investigator.”
“Wow. Really? A woman PI? I’ve never met one.” A new appreciation lit Mitzie’s face.
Linda caught the eye of a young exec type sitting at the bar. When he strode over and invited her to dance, she accepted. Her flirtatious smile received a shy grin.
When the music changed tempo and Katt returned, Abby detected the slight headshake to Lexi along with a slight flutter of her fingers. The girls were working behind the scene despite the night’s purpose.
Jenna continued dancing with her partner, as did Linda. Apparently, they both hit it off from the start.
“Mitzie, I’m not so sure about that guy with Jenna. He registered kind of high on my creep meter.” Abby didn’t want to see the girl’s night ruined because of inexperience.
“It’s okay. I’ll make sure they get home okay.” Mitzie spoke with assurance, as if it was common procedure among the trio.
The music changed genres several times, a reflection of the eclectic crowd. A few men in suits sat at the bar, a few cowboy types dotted the tables, and then there was the younger crowd. Old enough to have graduated college but young enough that life hadn’t worn the edges off their shiny outlook on life.
Several other appreciative glances in Abby’s direction received a frown. She hadn’t come to dance or hook up. She just wanted a mental pause where death nor brother hovered over her shoulder. Yet the niggling doubt of someone monitoring her every move filled her mind despite the fact she couldn’t put a face to the suspicion.
“What’s it like to be a private investigator?” Mitzie turned her attention to Katt. “That sounds so exciting.”
Katt shook her head. She’d recently had experience dealing with the business end of a killer. Caution blended with street smarts kept her wary. “Most of the time, it’s just sitting and waiting for something to happen. At other times, you wished you were just sitting on a house.”
“Do you carry a gun?” Mitzie asked.
“I carry a stun gun.” Katt avoided a direct answer.
To Abby’s knowledge, Katt didn’t have an LTC permit, which didn’t mean there wasn’t a Sig Sauer tucked under her jacket. Like the rest of the McAllister family, she sometimes made her own rules.
“What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever been involved in?” Mitzie pressed further.
“An angry husband who didn’t like the idea of being captured on film during a, shall we say, delicate moment?” Katt avoided describing her ordeal of having to dig her own grave. The psychopath who’d drugged and kidnapped her would never see the outside of prison, but that wouldn’t make the nightmares go away.
It wasn’t so much the question, but the way the assistant asked that drew Abby’s attention. Additional questions probed Katt’s knowledge and competency in her field. Types of preferred cameras, special lenses, infrared, and long-range mics fleshed out the in-depth curiosity.
The slight warmth derived from her drink faded into a light buzzing in Abby’s head. She’d never suspected Mitzie of anything more than being intensely curious. The fact Linda picked up the trail of questions after returning to the table led to the conclusion they probably had many late-night conversations about narrow escapes and imagined scenarios. Living vicariously through others.
Paranoia was a bitch.
Abby gasped with the recognition of a tall slim woman entering through the front door and making her way toward a side table. Karma took form as Charlotte Nickerson.
Their gazes locked before a predatory smile overtook the newcomer’s face. A few steps in a new direction lent little time to brace for impact. Abby steadied her nerves, remembering she held the upper hand—and Royden’s engagement ring.
“Well, hello. Abby is it? I’m surprised to see you here, alone.” An exaggerated show of looking around defined her mockery.
“She’s not alone. She’s with friends. And you are?” Steel tipped Katt’s tone.
“I’m Charlee Nickerson. It seems Abby and I have a mutual friend.”
“What do you want Charlotte.” From conversations with Royden, Abby knew the woman detested her first name.
“He will come back to me, you know. Eventually, he always does. Can’t help himself.” She sighed, as if burdened knowing the future.
“Odd, since he proposed to Abby.” Lexi swiveled to the side. “You really should put the ring on your finger, Abs. It’ll help keep away the riffraff.”
It was Charlotte’s turn to inhale quickly as crimson spread up her neck. “It’s not over, yet. He will be mine.” Turning on her heel, Charlee stalked out.
Abby was draine
d, physically and emotionally. “Guys, I think I just want to go home.”
Chapter Sixteen
Royden’s frustration lingered like a possessive ex-lover, stalking his every move, and rearing up at random times to interrupt his thoughts. Understanding Abby’s need for independence forced him to straddle the line between encouraging her quest for equanimity and keeping her safe. Her brothers wanted to smother her at every turn.
The prior evening, he’d seen his ex enter the pub and cussed a bloody blue streak. Like Billy and Luc McAllister, he also kept watch on the patrons coming and going, waiting to assist the undercover officers inside should there be a need.
Since he was alone in his car and the McAllisters had parked up the street, he spent twenty minutes answering angry text messages. The family networked better than any group he’d ever seen. With Lexi and Katt’s hacking skills, the brothers would know as much or more about Charlee than he did.
Again, complete transparency involved many explanations; yes, he and Charlee use to frequent the bar, and no, he had no idea she’d show up at that time. According to the undercover officer, the situation had looked tense for a few minutes.
To make matters worse, he’d arrived home minutes before Abby walked in the door, completely drained. She wouldn’t talk about her evening but did accept his embrace to hold her throughout the night.
Their morning routine had been quiet and subdued after she insisted on spending the night in her apartment tonight. It wasn’t clear whether the invitation extended to him or not. Her insistence that he needed alone time to think things through held no merit.
Throughout the day, his partner, Billy McAllister, had drilled him with questions, defining his intentions, and offering thinly veiled threats.
By the time he and Abby arrived at her apartment after work, the wedge between them had solidified. He was drowning in uncertainty.
Doubt and hesitation tightened the smile that didn’t reached her eyes. If he couldn’t penetrate the shields she continued to strengthen, their marriage was doomed before they spoke their vows.
The doorbell rung before he could hang up his jacket.
Opening the door, he sighed, standing back for the first of many visitors.
“Leave it to the only female sibling to not have food for a family meeting,” Lucas complained as he strode to the large easy chair and pulled Megan to sit on his lap. They rest of the crew entered with the expectation of dinner, or at least plenty of snacks.
“Guys, in case you haven’t noticed—Abby and I have been a tad busy.” Royden understood her brothers’ displaced irritation.
“Yeah, you need more furniture, too, half-pint. Your apartment is crowded as hell.” Caden sat with Kaylee in his lap at one end of the sofa.
The rest of the McAllisters doubled with their other halves to find seating in the moderate-sized space. Lexi and Katt had already booted up their laptops as they perched on Ethan and Matt’s thighs.
“Listen. I like this place. It’s comfortable and secure. Plus, I have a wonderful view.” Abby set a tray of chips and finger foods on the coffee table and took a seat beside Royden.
Royden cleared his throat before anyone could point out the flaws in the security Abby found comforting. He’d already elaborated on each one. As much as he wanted her living in his home, he wouldn’t use fear as coercion. At times, it appeared to take all her self-control to maintain the window dressing of serenity.
In turn, each brother had hounded him, wanting to know how he intended to fix the situation. Unlike them, he refused to bulldoze through her emotions. It wouldn’t work for the long run.
“Now that we’re all here,” Abby began, “Let’s go over what we’ve got so far.”
I hear Theodore Credlin offered you a job,” Matt murmured, then rubbed Kathryn’s shoulders when she gave him a dirty look.
“Girls...” Abby’s gaze bounced between Lexi, Katt, and Royden, her mouth thinning and a muscle ticking at the corner of her eye.
“Sweetheart, you know you can’t keep secrets from these guys for long.” Royden reached for her hand, grateful when she didn’t pull back.
Her penchant for erupting like a volcano became more prominent when family members skirted the law. It was times like the present when his calm assurance helped the most.
“Oh, hell.” Kathryn sucked in a sharp breath, leaning back against Matt. “Lexi, pull up Phyllis Rollison in connection with Ohio state police.” Continued tapping at her keyboard didn’t slow as Matt leaned around to view her screen.
“What?” Abby’s patience had shortened. They were all familiar with Kathryn and Lexi’s disregard for any and all electronic barriers, their skills commensurate with their curiosity. The fact they both used gathered information wisely, if not legally, was one of the reasons she’d accepted each.
“What the hell did you find? Wait, if it’s obtained illegally, I don’t want to know. Roy?”
As a psychologist and working detective, he understood her position and rationalized the usage of information.
“It’s okay to see, Abby.” He read the screen that had been swiveled around. “This is on the news. It says Phyllis Rollison and her daughter were involved in a motor vehicle accident while traveling east on I-70 outside Columbus. Both were killed.”
Abby covered her mouth as if afraid of what she might say. When Royden stood and pulled her into his arms, she went willingly. After a few deep breaths, she swiped a bottle of water from the coffee table. Her hands still trembled.
She accepted Royden’s motion to sit beside him and his arm around her shoulders.
“Oh, god. They were heading to Delaware to be near her family. She wanted a new start.” Abby blurted out the truth.
“I’ll get the reports—” Billy retrieved his phone to take notes.
“Don’t bother. They’re being distributed to each of your work computers now.” Lexi didn’t look up from her keyboard, engrossed in her endeavor.
“Looks like Credlin just moved to the top of the suspect list,” Kaylee surmised.
“He’s too wealthy to get his hands dirty.” Katt grimaced at her screen but continued to work.
“We’ll look further into his records.” Lucas arched a brow at Lexi, a silent signal to send him all her information. As a private investigator, he had little compunction about splitting hairs, or laws.
Royden’s first month of partnership with a McAllister equaled a cold shower. Like the rest of the family, Billy held ironclad beliefs in right and wrong. As long as no one was hurt in the process, some laws became more akin to guidelines.
“Have the reports come back on the dirt sample from Abby’s office?” Caden asked.
“Preliminary shows traces of sphagnum peat moss along with what they think is a fertilizer used in growing orchids.” Billy murmured as he toyed with the seam of Remie’s jeans. Side by side, they formed an impervious shield against any that would consider pitting one against the other. When apart, they remained equally strong.
It was the kind of relationship Royden enjoyed with Abby. Despite her insecurity stemming from recent events, she’d stand firm in her commitment to their relationship. The fact she wanted to protect him endeared her all the more. He’d spend every available minute erasing the threat of Charlee from Abby’s mind. “Plenty of people raise orchids as house plants. You can buy the growing medium at any big box store.”
“Not this stuff. The lab can’t match it to a brand,” Lexi refuted. “I’ll bet it’s expensive as hell.”
“Uh, we know someone who has a large greenhouse full of them. Our CEO buddy is a busy man. He’s producing hybrid flowers and registering them with the Royal Horticultural Society.” Lexi leaned to the side and pointed to her screen for Ethan to see.
“True, but look, Lexi. He employs quite a few workers. Even if you could pin the sample to that location, there’re too many possibilities. Any one of his employees would carry the dirt on their boots or sneakers.” Katt’s shoulders slumped with the
finding.
“Do not hack private files, ladies. Please?” Abby covered her face with one hand as if to wipe away the knowledge of illegal searches.
“The orchid information is on his webpage. Look for yourself.” Katt shrugged a shoulder but kept typing, ignoring the obvious illegal search into Credlin’s personal files.
“The techs didn’t come up with anything else in their search of Abby’s office,” Ethan added.
“Nor was anything else discovered in the caverns.” Billy glanced to Lucas. “Did you or Caden find anything else about the gang, Blood Eagles?”
“The rapist, Emilio, is backed by money. A good bit of it. The gang leader vows that Burn’s advance on Abby wasn’t sanctioned and claimed her a victim of opportunity.” Caden’s apologetic glance toward his sister spoke volumes. His brief explanation spawned a deeper discussion of future approaches to the gang and the risks in doing so. “Yet they knew about her and her ties to the victim.”
“He also assured us that he’ll deal with the splinter group formed over this legal issue,” Lucas added. “On the other hand, they do have access to the money needed to pursue whatever ends desired. Rumors have it their drug trade is thriving.”
“What about Carrigan? His trial isn’t for another two months, but I imagine our twisted psycho is anxious to get out of jail. He could have enlisted the help of his brother or any number of friends.” Abby’s tension took shape in fingers thrumming on her knee. “After failing to frame Billy and kidnapping me, the psychotic genius has plenty of motive to end any and all McAllisters.”
“I checked on the brother, Zachery. He said he never left home over the weekend. He has no alibi, but I can’t prove him a liar.” Matt sifted his fingers through his better half’s long hair, an unconscious affirmation of her help.
“Isn’t that the hand you wipe with?” Katt leaned forward and frowned. Guffaws erupting around the room lessened the tense atmosphere.
“How about Brad? He was pretty pissed off with the fact the CEO both called you and spoke with Salsman, your boss.” Ethan’s question, directed at Abby, included the nonverbal request for information from Lexi and Katt, who both went at their keyboards with a new zeal.
McAllister Justice Series Box Set Page 39
