by Geri Foster
Rachel slid her gaze to his face. “I can only imagine. I’m surprised you’re able to walk.”
He squeezed her tighter. “Don’t underestimate those sisters. They don’t miss a beat.”
“How are we going to solve this?”
“Look, Rachel, this isn’t like your father’s case where we can investigate a wrongdoing. This is men wanting to kill someone over something we don’t even know really exists.” He tapped her on her pretty little nose. “And you’re not going to be a part of this situation. I won’t risk you getting hurt.”
“I didn’t get hurt the last time.”
“We were damn lucky. You’re staying put.”
She crossed her arms. “Now, that’s a challenge if I ever heard one.”
Kendall knocked on the Newman’s door and Josh’s mama, JoAnn, answered. “Hello, Kendall, how are you?” she looked around her. “Marcus. What brings you two here?”
“We came to see Josh,” Marcus said. “Is he home?”
JoAnn’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you want to see him. He doesn’t bother anyone.”
“Oh,” Kendall said quickly. “There’s nothing wrong. I just want to ask him a question.” She hesitated a moment. “About computers.”
JoAnn smiled. “He’s very smart about those.” She opened the door wider, inviting them in. “I, personally, don’t get it, but he sure does. Let me call him up from the basement.”
They waited in the foyer while she went into the kitchen. Kendall gazed up at Marcus. “I guess this is as far as we get.”
“Yeah, nothing like good old Southern hospitality.”
“I guess she figures we’ll ask one question and be on our way.” Kendall lowered her voice to a whisper. “This family has never been real friendly.”
Josh showed up wearing a tattered and stained t-shirt, baggy sweatpants, socks on his feet and reeking like he hadn’t had a shower in a week. His bloodshot eyes attested to the hours he spent in front of a monitor.
“Whatcha want?” he muttered, his shoulders slumped, his belly hanging over the waistband of his pants.
JoAnn shoved her way into the crowded area. “They have a question.”
“I wanted to talk to you about a thumb drive you bought from my dad at a yard sale in September,” Kendall stated.
“Why?” Josh asked. “What’s it to you? He sold it to me. I paid him for it.”
“We know that,” Marcus cut in. “We’re just curious if you might want to get rid of it.” He glanced down at Kendall. “We’d like to buy it back.”
“Why?”
“Yeah, why do you want it?” JoAnn asked, her arms folded tightly. “He bought it fair and square.”
“We don’t doubt that for a minute,” Kendall said. “I’m afraid it wasn’t ours to sell in the first place. It belonged to Bobby Joe and I’d like to give it back to him.”
“You can do that? Isn’t he locked up?” Josh asked, urgency lacing his voice.
“Yeah,” Kendall answered slowly. Something about his tone of voice said he knew something he didn’t want to share.
Josh hurried on. “Look, there’s nothing on it but a bunch of games. It’s not worth the five bucks I paid. I planned to strip it and use it to back up my games, but I’m sure he’d like to have it back if it was his in the first place.”
“You’re right about that. How about if we gave you the money for a brand new one,” Marcus offered.
Josh’s eyes lit up. “That would cost at least twenty bucks for a good one.”
Marcus reached in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Sold.”
Eyes glued to the bills inside Marcus’ wallet as he opened it up, Josh’s mama had to nudge him to get his attention. “If you’re going to sell it son, they’ll need to see it.”
“Right. You swear you’re going to get it to him right away? You’re not going to keep it or anything, right?”
“Absolutely,” Kendall assured him.
Josh turned and ran through the kitchen to tromp down the stairs like a giant. Kendall couldn’t believe their luck. Could it all be this simple? Would they finally have the notorious thumb drive? Something about the whole situation felt wrong, but she shook it off. They needed that thumb drive.
Five minutes later and Josh still hadn’t returned.
“What do you think he’s doing down there?” Kendall whispered to Marcus.
“I don’t kn—”
Just then, Josh bounded back up the stairs and stood before them with a thumb drive in one hand, the other opened and extended to accept the money Marcus offered.
Clutching the cash, Josh handed Marcus the small device then darted back toward the basement entrance. After thanking JoAnn Newman, they turned and headed toward the door.
“That was weird.”
“No kidding. He looked nervous as hell. You think he knows what’s on this thing? It took him a long time to come back up.”
“Maybe. The question is, now, what do we do with it?” Kendall asked. “Do we just give it to Lucas, or do we check it first ourselves?”
“Obviously we need to find out if there really is a video of a murder on this thing. We should give it to Lucas right away, but it might be more complicated than just plugging it in and seeing what’s on it. It’s possible the file is hidden. It could take some time to dig up, and that’s time we don’t have. I know a guy that’s a whiz at this stuff. I’ll call Lucas and see if he wants me to have him have a look first. If he agrees, I’ll give him a call.”
“I’d love to be there.”
He gazed down at her. “How’s your work schedule looking?”
“I have a couple of hours in the afternoon tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
They got in the car and he looked at her. “The movers called me this afternoon and said they’d be able to deliver my stuff this evening. I received a text from them. They’re finished. You want to help me get my apartment together?”
“Exactly what would that entail?”
“Well, I know the bed won’t be made and not a single thing put away. I have a lot of boxes.”
Shocked, she turned to him. “I thought you weren’t going to bring that much.”
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things to do. I have the kitchen to unpack, and the living room. Clothes to put away…a bed to make.”
She laughed at his implication. “Well,” she stressed the word, “you can make your own bed.” She added a grin. “If I make a bed, I’m sleeping in it.”
He stopped the car and put his arm around her. “That can easily be arranged.”
She shoved him away. “Not so quick, hot shot. That’s why I said you’ll be making the bed.”
Marcus couldn’t believe his luck. He and Kendall had spent the entire weekend together, and now the beginning of the week too, and he loved every minute. It felt wonderful having someone in his life he hoped to build a future with.
In the past, Marcus hadn’t given his day to day life much thought but, now, things were different and he couldn’t think of anything else. What would life be like if they were husband and wife? Being married to Kendall didn’t seem as farfetched as in the past.
If things kept going as they were, there was real hope that, one day, they’d be ready for that step. If it were up to him, they’d already be walking down the aisle, but he understood they needed to take it slow. He may have loved her practically all his life, but this was new for her.
He glanced her way and caught her smiling, staring out the window at the passing scenery.
“That’s a good look for you.”
She turned his way. “What is?”
“Happy. Relaxed.”
She let out a breath. “Yeah. I haven’t felt like I could really breathe for a long time.
Should we get lucky enough for this to be the proverbial needle in the haystack, then, Bobby Joe is in for a rude awakening. Lucas can arrest the person who killed the DA and Bobby Joe won
’t have to fear for his life, but he’ll go to jail for a long time.” She bit her lip, her brow scrunching.
“Whoa, now. What’s that look? I thought you were finally breathing again.”
She shook her head. “It’s just, if this doesn’t go our way then, when he gets out, he’s right back to harassing me.”
Marcus couldn’t stand to see the pain return to her eyes so quickly. She’d only had a few minutes of peace, and already Bobby Joe was ruining that. He knew he said he’d go slowly, work at her pace, but he couldn’t sit by and watch her suffer any longer. Breathing in deep, he swung for the fences. “Not if we’re married.”
Kendall blinked several times, before turning to face him. Her beautiful mouth formed a perfect circle.
“What?” she asked, breathlessly. “What did you say?”
“You heard me,” he said, turning his attention back to the road. “If you’re my wife, Bobby Joe has no choice but to accept you are no longer his property, and he wouldn’t dare come after what’s mine.”
She threw her hands up. “Oh, so now I’m just a piece of property you two pass around?”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to sound like that.” He pulled over to the side of the street, put the car in park and turned to look at her. “Kendall, I think we’ve done this all wrong and I want a do over.”
“What do you mean?”
He held up his hand. “Hear me out.”
She gave him a doubtful glance, but finally nodded.
He began, knowing the limb he’d climbed out on shook and might snap any minute. “I’ve loved you practically all my life, Kendall. I was a fool not to say anything sooner, and I lost my chance when Bobby Joe came into the picture. I know you went through a lot with him, and it’s taken a long time to find yourself again but, baby, you did it. You’re so strong, so brave, and you deserve to breathe free forever, not just for a few brief moments. Let me be the one to make sure you do. To make sure he can’t ever touch you again.”
He searched her eyes for a response, but she sat, stunned, not saying a word. So, he pulled her closer and kissed her. The instant their lips met, his heart went into overdrive and it became difficult to breathe. The feel of her mouth against his had his whole body standing up, taking notice.
She reacted, kissing him back just as passionately but, much to his disappointment, all too soon she pressed her hands to his chest and slowly broke the kiss. He wanted it to go on forever, he wanted her in his arms, his bed and his life.
“I can’t just marry you,” she said, softly, but sternly. “I made that mistake once, rushing into marriage, I won’t do that again.”
He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. “You’re right. I know, you’re right. I just can’t stand to see you in pain anymore.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. He knew she found the idea of Bobby Joe unable to harass her anymore very enticing. He knew her desire to get on with her life had to be strong because she’d been fighting her ex for years. But she was right. It was no good to start a marriage as a means of escape.
“I don’t think that’s quite fair to you,” she muttered. “I’m just getting my head on straight again. If we get married, I want it to be because it is right for us, when it’s right for us. You and me both.”
He took her hand and smiled, bringing her fingers to his lips and kissing them tenderly. “No matter how it came about, I’d treasure you the rest of my life.”
She pulled back her hand and folded her arms. “I can’t say that doesn’t sound tempting, but I’m not going to run off and get married just to keep my ex from attacking me and making my life miserable.”
She glanced up at him and they both broke into laughter.
“Well, when you put it that way,” he chuckled before turning serious again. “At least think about moving into my house. We don’t have to get married. I mean, hopefully, one day. I’m not going to lie. I’d marry you in a heartbeat if you said yes. But I won’t push you into doing anything. I just thought if Bobby Joe finds out we’d married, and you’ve moved on, he might be less likely to come around. Also, knowing he’d have to deal with me would make him think twice.”
She grew quiet and Marcus wondered if she was re-considering his proposal. Nothing would make him happier, but he didn’t want to feed off her misfortune either. That would be unfair to Kendall and he loved her too much to do that.
She glanced up at him and grinned mischievously. “Our parents would die from the excitement.”
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest as visions of waking up every day to her smiling face infiltrated his mind. Making her happy, planning vacations together, starting a family.
He pulled back his enthusiasm. They weren’t there yet. Happy as it would make him for her to say yes, the timing wasn’t right.
“I don’t want to push you into anything, Kendall,” he said softly. “I do love you. But I want you to love me back, too. And I know you’re not quite there yet. Someday, I hope, but I understand. I just want to keep you safe.”
“I thought you were doing that in the apartment next door.”
He turned away. “I mean, really safe. As in under my roof.”
The silence in the car grew like an inflated balloon and he wondered if he’d taken that dangerous one step too far in the situation.
She surprised him when she confessed. “I might be halfway in love with you already, Marcus Matthews.”
His heart racing, his mouth dry, he slowly glanced over at her. “You really mean that?”
She met his gaze. “You are the sweetest, kindest, most trustworthy man I know. And you’ve always been there for me, even if I didn’t know it at the time.”
He smiled wide, kissing her quickly. “Let’s simplify, then. This week, let’s move my things, and yours, into my house. There are two extra bedrooms you can use as long as you want. When all this settles down, you can decide if you want to stay. And we can move on from there.”
The evening grew darker and Marcus couldn’t read her features as clearly as when they started the discussion. He wondered what her thoughts were. Had he managed to scare her off?
To his surprise, she chuckled. “You make it sound so easy, so simple.”
“It can be.”
“It might be rough going for a while. I’ve been on my own for a while now. I’m not sure I know how to share anymore.”
He laughed. “I’ve never lived with anyone before, but the idea of waking up to you every morning is absolutely worth it. Are you saying you’ll consider it?”
She reached over, cupped the back of his head and pulled him closer, clasping her mouth to his. If a kiss ever said anything before, this one said yes.
James Cole watched in the shadows as Kendall Cochran and Marcus Matthews came out of a neighborhood house with what he suspected to be the thumb drive he was after. That little shit Josh was a liar. No surprise there. He said Bobby Joe had come back for the thumb drive and he’d sold it to him. Swore up and down that the only copy of the vid was still on it. He made sure the guy knew lying to him was something he didn’t want to do or it’d be his head. Good thing he decided to double check on that little tidbit. And good timing, too, as he was there just in time to watch the show.
Evidently Cochran was once married to the woman named Kendall, who was currently vacating the premises, thumb drive in hand, and she was currently cozied up to an attorney named Marcus Matthews. It hadn’t taken him long to figure out Bobby Joe Cochran’s life. People in this crummy little town liked to talk, and talk they did. But this guy, he had personal business with him. Marcus was the one who shot Kenny. He’d pay for that.
James couldn’t chance going to jail. He had too good of a racket on the outside to let one little video screw it up. That’s why he had to get rid of the DA. He had a stack of evidence he planned to turn over to the Attorney General.
Who would’ve figured two losers would be outside the convenience store videoing the
murder on a damn cell phone? He sure the hell hadn’t. Not until he saw the evidence himself and learned Bobby Joe Cochran had the original and had been trying to blackmail whoever committed the crime.
A stupid stunt dangerous enough to cost him his life.
James knew Bobby Joe had been sentenced to serve ten days in county for assaulting his ex-wife. A sentence with the ability to work in James’ favor. But now he had a new target. Two people he and his gang would go after in order to destroy the one thing that could incriminate him.
He just had to be patient.
He eased back in the Charger and pulled out behind the Mercedes. He couldn’t do anything now because every homeowner in town stood out in the yard enjoying their Sunday evening. No, he drove at a safe distance so as not to be noticed. Once he learned where they lived, he’d come back later...much later.
Chapter 13
Kendall couldn’t believe they stood in Marcus’ apartment staring at boxes and debating on whether they should move everything back tonight or have a moving van come tomorrow and take both their furniture at the same time. Crazy. Her head felt like she’d stuck it in a bowl of Jell-O.
Marcus stood on the opposite side of the room his hands on his hips. “It’s your call. What do you want to do?”
She didn’t know. Her heart raced like a Quarter horse and she kept licking her dry lips. Did she dare? What in the world was the right answer? “I’m still thinking,” she replied. “This is serious.”
“What do you have to lose?”
“My freedom.”
“You call Bobby Joe coming over here and beating you to a pulp, freedom?”
“No, not that part.”
“Then what?”
She licked her lips, again. “Well, I kind of do as I please. No one tells me I can’t do anything.”
“Look,” he said, running his fingers through his dark hair. “Call Rachel and see what she thinks. That’s what’s been eating at you throughout this whole conversation.”
