Chase the Storm

by Geri Foster

  “One never knows. I didn’t expect him to be honest enough to tell me about the thumb drive, but he did. Now, I can’t vouch for how honest he is, but he told me more than I anticipated. I’ll pick you up at your office in ten minutes.”

  Lucas arrived with Bobby Joe in the backseat, handcuffed. “Hey, Bobby Joe. Hope you enjoy your last bit of freedom.”

  “Shut up and mind your own business. I don’t know what you’re doing here anyway. Lucas afraid to leave town without you?”

  “You know better than that,” Lucas said. “I have absolutely nothing to be afraid of, especially from you. And I want you to know I take a lot of pleasure putting your ass in jail. The way you treated Kendall, I wish you would’ve gotten years instead of just ten days, but it’s not over yet. You’re still to be sentenced.”

  “That’s not up to you, Sheriff.” Bobby Joe scoffed. “You better hope I get out in time to take care of business. Or do you want my death on your hands?”

  “There’s no one to blame for your situation but you. I’m not worrying about your welfare. You ruined that years ago. Doesn’t mean I’ll put you in harm’s way, I’ve got something they call integrity, Bobby Joe. But I’m not sticking my neck out for you either.”

  Marcus turned toward the back seat. “Lucas here is a lawman, you see. He’s morally bound to be on good behavior. Me, on the other hand, I’m a lawyer. Which means I know exactly what I can get away with. Think on that next time you decide Kendall is your ticket to getting what you want.”

  Bobby Joe laughed. “I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of anybody.”

  “You sure about that? Well, just so you know, while you’re locked up, we’re going to be looking for the thumb drive you so desperately need. And when we find it, we plan to turn it over to Lucas.” Marcus turned back around and faced forward. “I’m sure you’re not going to like that.”

  Lucas spoke up. “And when I get my hands on it, it’s going directly to the Attorney General. Do you realize you’ve been withholding evidence concerning a major crime? You won’t be looking at a few months. We’re talking years. Lots of years.”

  “I’m not worried about nothing. Please, you talk like you believe me now, when you’ve been questioning me for days without an ounce of trust in what I had to say. As far as you know, I don’t have anything. Neither one of you have ever seen it. You don’t even know it really exists, do you?”

  “You’d be smart to hope and pray we find it and turn it over to the AG before those thugs get their hands on you,” Marcus said. “The bullets they used were real and the men shooting meant business. If they’re willing to come in town and shoot up Main Street, you have a real problem.”

  “We’ll just see what happens. I’m not afraid of anything.” Bobby Joe barked out a taunting laugh. “Ten days in county will be a vacay.”

  Kendall spent the day cleaning and cooking. Happy to pay Marcus back for all his kindness, she decided to bake him a cake. Since he loved chocolate as much as she did, the flavor wasn’t much of a decision.

  While staying busy, she continued to look for the mysterious thumb drive. She Googled ‘thumb drive’ to have an idea of the variations on what one could look like, just to be sure she didn’t miss it, then began searching. Even while taking a pan out to pour the cake batter into, she tore everything out of the cabinet checking for the elusive item. In the end, no matter where she looked, she didn’t find anything remotely resembling a thumb drive. She questioned if Bobby Joe told the truth. It could have been in his possession all along.

  She set the table with her best, and only, dishes and a table cloth, chilled the wine then went into the bathroom to freshen up. While she undressed, her mind kept going back to the time she’d packed up her things and left the house she and Bobby Joe once shared. She’d touched nothing that didn’t belong to her, only things she’d actually brought to the marriage. She even left half the wedding gifts behind. When Lucas and her father had come to move her stuff into the apartment, she had everything separated so they wouldn’t accidentally take something they shouldn’t.

  She paused as she stepped under the shower head. Several boxes belonging to Bobby Joe had been stored in their garage. It had been such a mess, she wondered if something had been picked up accidentally.

  It could happen.

  As she scrubbed herself clean, she tried to focus on the boxes in the garage. Was the thumb drive within her reach? Even if she had accidentally brought one of Bobby Joe’s boxes home, her dad had just cleaned out the garage. The chances of his stuff still being there was slim, but it was worth a look anyway.

  Opening the door to the shower, she quickly dried off, fixed her hair and got dressed. Marcus would be there soon, and she planned to discuss all this with him. Perhaps they could solve this mystery after all.

  Marcus showed up with a smile on his lips and a bottle of wine in his hand. “You look beautiful,” he said, his dark eyes sparkling like lit candles. “I am one lucky guy.”

  Kendall wore a pair of nice shorts that displayed her long, toned legs and a halter top, revealing her smooth, tan shoulders. She had her golden hair piled haphazardly on top of her head with several strands breaking loose from their confines.

  She looked beyond beautiful.

  She returned his greeting with a flirtatious grin of her own as she took the wine from his hand. “You just might be. Let me put this in the refrigerator.” She turned and walked toward the kitchen, then glanced over her shoulder. “How did it go today, taking Bobby Joe to lock up?”

  After finishing up at work, Marcus had donned a pair of shorts, a polo shirt and sandals to join Kendall for dinner. Even so, he was thankful that, with the sweltering heat, they weren’t cooking out. Nothing like good old-fashioned air conditioning come summer in Texas.

  With his hands in his pockets, he shrugged and followed her into the kitchen. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I hoped he might talk more about where the thumb drive could be, but he clammed up pretty tight.”

  She turned her gaze to him. “That’s him all right. When you want him to talk he shuts up, ask him to be quiet and he’s a regular chatter box.”

  “He didn’t seem too upset about being sent away for ten days. Lucas thinks it’s because he’s hoping whoever is after him can’t get to him while he’s behind bars.”

  She shifted her gaze. “Maybe, but he has no guarantee of that. Bad people make up a lot of the population of most prisons.”

  “We tried to explain the situation to him, but you know how he can be, arrogant SOB.”

  “Oh, I know.” She smiled and waved her hand for him to take a seat. He moved to pull out her chair instead.

  “No,” she said, easing him down on the chair. “Tonight is your time. I want you to relax and enjoy dinner.”

  He chuckled then took his seat. She placed a glass of wine in front of him then turned back to the stove. The smell of rich, spicy Mexican food filled the apartment. Next, she placed a bowl of salsa with a basket of chips on the table.

  He watched as she removed a dish from the oven. His taste buds stood up and his mouth watered. “That smells delicious.”

  “It’s my mama’s famous chili relleno casserole. My father and I love this.”

  “It looks delicious.” He scooped up some salsa with a large chip and popped it in his mouth. “Is this salsa homemade?”

  She beamed and nodded. “You like it?”

  “I love it.”

  She dished up a healthy amount of the main course and placed it in front of him. He inhaled deeply as he picked up his fork. She served herself, then took the chair next to him at the table.

  “I hope you like it,” she said. “There isn’t a lot of stuff I cook really well, but this is one of them.”

  He took a bite and almost groaned. The zesty flavor touched his tongue as the best chili rellenos he’d ever tasted moved toward his throat. “Oh my gosh, will you marry me?”

  She chuckled and leaned back her head. “So, my mama i
s right. From a man’s stomach directly to his heart.”

  Marcus smiled and nodded. “Your cooking alone makes you the woman of my dreams.”

  She fanned her face with her hand. “My, I can barely contain myself.”

  They enjoyed comfortable conversation during dinner. He discussed a case he’d been working on and she detailed her day off of house cleaning and laundry.

  Finished eating, Kendall brought out the cake and poured more wine. It appeared he enjoyed the chocolate cake as much as the casserole. When finished, he helped her clear the table and put the plates in the dishwasher, then they moved to the living room where it was a little cooler.

  They sat on the couch next to each other and he put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “It’s nice after a busy day to enjoy each other.”

  “It is. I’m not used to this.”

  “Well, you could get used to it,” he said softly.

  She snuggled closer. “That sounds nice.” Suddenly she sat up and turned to face him. “Oh, right! I’ve been thinking about the thumb drive and I’ve had an idea.”

  He sat a little straighter. “Go on.”

  She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Whatever it is, I think, I might have had it on accident. It’s possible my father or Lucas took one of Bobby Joe’s boxes when they were moving mine for me.”

  Marcus nodded. “That’s possible. If they had, where would it be now?”

  “In my dad’s garage. But he had that garage sale recently, remember? He might have sold the contents.”

  “Can we go check?”

  “That’s what I was thinking.”

  Marcus’ heart thudded painfully in his chest. Had their only hope of finding the damn thing disappeared? If Kendall’s father threw it away, there’s no way they could ever recover it. “Did you ask your father about it yet?”

  “No, I thought we might take a drive over there after our dinner settles and talk to him.”

  Marcus placed his wine glass on the end table. “Let’s go now. I want to find that thing, if for no other reason than to be able to move on with our lives.”

  She stood. “I’ll call and let them know we’re coming.”

  Within ten minutes they were walking up Kendall’s parents’ walk toward the door. She opened the door and shouted out, “Woohoo, we’re here.”

  Her mama came into view smiling like Christmas day. “Oh, Marcus,” she said, taking his hand. “We’re so glad to see you.” Kendall’s father showed up behind her mama and reached out to shake his hand as well.

  They’d all known each other for a long time, so no introductions were necessary.

  “We’re glad you two dropped by,” her father said. “Haven’t see you in a while, Marcus.”

  “I’ve been pretty busy, John. My practice is really picking up. Plus, today I rode with Lucas to deliver Bobby Joe to county.”

  Her mama, Connie, shook her head. “That makes us very happy to know that man is behind bars. What a monster.”

  John placed his hands on Connie’s shoulders. “He’s lucky I didn’t take my rifle and kill him for the way he treated Kendall.”

  “I understand,” Marcus replied.

  Connie waved her hand. “Come on in. Let’s sit down. Would either of you like a glass of iced tea?”

  “No, thanks, Mama. We just finished your chili relleno casserole.” She glanced over at Marcus. “I don’t know about him, but I’m stuffed.”

  Marcus rubbed his stomach. “So am I.”

  With them seated in a circle, Kendall leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees. “Dad, do you remember the boxes we took when Bobby Joe and I split?”

  He nodded. “I do.”

  “I know you sold some things in a garage sale, but was anything left?”

  Her father’s brows drew close together. “Well, it was last September, once it turned cooler, that a few neighbors and I pitched in together and made it a large sale. I’m sorry, honey, but anything left I threw out.” He looked up at her. “I called you about that to make sure it was all right.”

  “Yes, I remember, but I wasn’t sure you went ahead and did it. Did you notice if anything looked like it belonged to Bobby Joe? I was thinking we might have picked up one of his boxes by mistake.”

  “Not really, but I wasn’t looking too closely. Although there were some computer things that I didn’t suspect belonged to you. You were never much into that sort of thing.”

  Marcus scooted closer. “Do you remember seeing a flash drive at all?”

  “Yes, I did. And I sold it.”

  Marcus’ heart beat rapidly. Perhaps they hadn’t missed their chance. “I know that was a while ago, but do you by any chance remember who you sold it to?”

  John’s eyes widened. “I’m pretty sure I sold it to Josh Newman, down the street. The kid’s a real geek and he snatched it up as soon as he spotted it. I told him good riddance, we didn’t want a single thing of that no good Bobby Joe’s lying around.”

  Connie scoffed. “He’s far from a kid. Thirty-three and still living in his parents’ basement. Doesn’t even have a job.”

  “You mean the guy who lives on the corner?” Kendall asked. “Is he still at home? I never see him.”

  “That’s because he lives like a recluse. His mama says he’s a gamer and does nothing but play video games all day.” Connie scowled her disapproval. “A man his age should be working and have a family.”

  “Now, dear,” John said. “Millennials think differently than we do.”

  “He’s not a millennial, he’s a grown man who should be out on his own.”

  Marcus knew Josh and didn’t think much of him, either. He was an only child whose parents spoiled him to the point he never made anything of himself. He struggled to even graduate high school, much less attend college.

  Although Josh had to be a few years older than him, he’d never seen him with a girl. He had always been a loner who stayed to himself. Often Marcus suspected he might be troubled because being aloof and overweight made him a target for bullies.

  They chatted several minutes before Kendall stood. “Well, we were just curious about that thumb drive. We’ll see you guys later.”

  Connie looked up. “What’s up with the thumb drive? Why so curious?”

  “It was Bobby Joe’s. That’s what he came to my apartment looking for Friday night. I wondered if it really existed.”

  Satisfied, her parents relaxed. Marcus and Kendall exited quickly so as not to arouse more questions. Outside they stood next to the car, staring at the brick, two-story house across the street, on the corner. “You think he’s there?” Marcus asked.

  “According to Mama, he’s there all the time, but I don’t know what excuse we can use to find out about the thumb drive.”

  “I think we’d be wise to tell Lucas your father said Josh has the thumb drive and have him get a search warrant for it.”

  She raised a brow in doubt. “You honestly think a judge will do that? I mean, we don’t even know Bobby Joe is telling the truth. And if he is, there hasn’t been a charge or proof that anyone broke the law.”

  Marcus put his hands on his hips. “What about those gunmen shooting up Main Street?”

  “You’re right there, but I’d rather we find out what Josh has to say. If we hit a wall, then we call Lucas.”

  Chapter 12

  Lucas sat on the couch with his legs propped on a foot stool and Rachel’s head in his lap. They were both reading. Him about ranching, her the latest computer magazine.

  Putting it down, she said, “Do you believe Bobby Joe about the thumb drive?”

  “I don’t think you can believe much he says anymore.” Lucas closed the book and put it on the arm of the couch. “I used to be able to trust him with my life, but I haven’t been able to say that for a long time. He’s a liar, a thief, a rotten husband, and a con artist. I have no respect for him at all.”

  “What happened to him? We used to all hang around together and
enjoy each other’s company. We went to the movies, out for pizza, all kinds of stuff. Then, when he and Kendall got married, he slowly changed.”

  “I told him he was getting married too soon. They were too young. I knew Bobby Joe wasn’t mature enough to take on a wife.”

  “Yet the first few years they seemed happy.”

  He wouldn’t tell Rachel that Bobby Joe had been cheating on his wife since before the marriage. She didn’t need to know that and neither did Kendall. It would only hurt her, and she’d been punished enough.

  “I think the happiness facet turned off when reality set in and Bobby Joe realized marriage was forever, and he wasn’t going to make that commitment.”

  “Then why get married in the first place?”

  “Why are you asking me? Kendall is your friend. She was crazy in love with the guy. She would’ve done anything for him.”

  “That’s because she thought he felt the same way. He led her to believe she was the only woman in the world.”

  Lucas combed his fingers through her hair. “Well, it all went south.”

  “It’s too bad. I hated when she told me all the things Bobby Joe did. It broke her heart. It took her a long time to confess his abuse. When I heard what all he’d done, I wanted to kill him.”

  “Me too,” Lucas said. “But I’ve finally got him put away for a while. Let’s just hope when he comes up for trial they tack on a few years.”

  Rachel sat up and Lucas took her arm and pulled her close to him, not wanting her out of his reach. “I’m more concerned about those men who came into town shooting at me and my deputy.”

  “I thought they were aiming for Bobby Joe.”

  “They may have been, but David and I were in the way.”

  “We’re lucky no innocent bystanders were hurt.”

  “They should be glad the grandmas weren’t out and about. Those three would’ve probably chased them out of town.”

  Rachel laughed. “I can only imagine. Chances are they might’ve captured them. Those three have no boundaries.”

  “You’re telling me. Grandma Hope came into my office when I came back from dropping Bobby Joe off and told me what she thought.”