Brian shook his head dumbly as he made his way down the hallway. “Night.”
“See you in the morning,” Eric answered, walking inside his room. “I’ll leave the door open. I’m a little worried about Rick.”
“I’m a little worried about all of us,” Brian murmured, walking into his room, located beside Eric’s at the end of the hallway.
* * *
The next morning, they were eating breakfast and Dad had just made a big announcement. Brian and his younger brothers were all staring open-mouthed at their father in astonishment.
Brian finally closed his mouth and spoke. “What do you mean, you and Mom are splitting up?”
Dad didn’t seem to be able to look him in the eye, because he stood up, approaching the dishwasher with his cereal bowl.
“You heard me, Brian. And your mom has gone away with Aaron Mitchum,” he muttered, opening the dishwasher and shoving his bowl onto the rack.
“What?” Eric growled.
Brian looked at Rick, who appeared devastated.
Dad poured some coffee and sat back down, continuing to avoid everyone’s eyes.
“What it comes down to is this—they’re gone and there’s money missing in the form of a huge investment Aaron had supposedly made for the benefit of several of us, including Tom Ashford. We’re going to have to get rid of several big-ticket items, like the cruiser and Camaro, and maybe even sell the house.”
Dad sighed heavily. “Hopefully, we’ll be back on our feet in a couple more years, when Eric is due to begin college.”
“I don’t understand,” Brian admitted, feeling grim. “I never saw any trouble between you and Mom? And the Mitchums have always seemed to get along really well too.”
“We didn’t want to worry you boys. I just never expected it to happen like this. I thought your mom was going to explain everything to you boys, first.”
Finally, Dad looked Brian straight in the eye. “Are you serious about trying to make it as an Army Ranger?”
“Of course, I am. But I can’t leave all of you at a time like this,” Brian answered.
“Yes, you can,” Eric said firmly. “I’ll be around for the next few years to help out. It’s what you’ve always wanted, so you should go for it.”
“I agree,” Dad murmured. “I’ve also been thinking we should relocate to Chicago, our company home base, even though I hate to take you guys away from your friends. But who knows how many people in town invested in this scheme with Aaron? Your friends could turn against you, so I think it would be better to live somewhere else for a while until this blows over.” Dad hung his head. “I know it’s going to be hard on you guys.”
Brian looked at him in concern. “What about you Dad?”
“I’ll get along. I’ve always had my job, which luckily I’ve loved. And I’ll still have all of you to keep me busy. Let’s not discuss your mother, because I can’t even imagine what’s going on or what’s going to happen to her, so we can’t worry. But I’m here for you.”
“When are you thinking about relocating?” Eric asked.
“We might have to do it as soon as next week,” Dad answered. “We’ll have to get you enrolled in school, which starts soon. Although not quite as soon in the Chicago area as it does here.”
Rick finally spoke, sounding forlorn. “Where will we go?”
Dad’s expression softened. “There’s a company apartment where we can live for a while.”
Brian heaved a sigh, standing. “I guess I’d better get to work.”
Dad nodded his obvious agreement. “No one knows anything now about the money. But the FBI has gotten involved. Jake Loughlin, the owner of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, is my friend and a former special agent, and he’s going to do whatever he can to help us out.”
“Okay. I’m glad Mr. Loughlin knows,” Brian murmured, heading toward the door and feeling slightly shell shocked.
“He said to go on as usual, as long as we possibly can.”
“Alright,” Brian answered, walking through the doorway. “I should be home early afternoon.”
“I’m sorry, boys,” Dad said, as Brian closed the door behind him, heading toward his truck while several unanswered questions were running through his brain.
Didn’t the government seize people’s property when something like this happened? What would happen to Mom and Aaron Mitchum once they were caught? No matter what she’d done, he still loved her. He couldn’t even imagine his mother doing something like this. even in his worst nightmare.
But Aaron Mitchum? Hell, yes.
After all, look at how much trouble Ashley had caused for Brian during high school, stringing him along.
Chapter Eight
When Ashley awoke the following morning, it was close to nine o’clock. She’d finally dozed off for a few hours after being awake at least five.
Once she was dressed, she walked downstairs to find her mom had packed several new suitcases and had piled them all near the back door.
“Ashley. I’ve got something terrible I need to tell you.”
Ashley held up a staying hand. “I heard some of what you and Dad were saying last night, Mom.”
“Oh, hon. Sit down. If you heard what we were saying, there’s even more of a reason we need to talk. You need to know what you’re going to hear, and whatever happens, you’re going to have to stick to the story that’s going around.”
“Mom, you look so tired,” Ashley murmured. “Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll get you more coffee?”
“Thank you,” Mom answered, sitting at the kitchen table while Ashley walked over to the coffee pot, pouring them each some coffee.
Once Ashley was seated across from her, Mom sipped on her coffee, and then began to explain. “First of all, everything you heard between your father and me needs to be kept secret. Alright?”
“Okay,” Ashley answered, puzzled.
“What did you hear?”
“That Dad has to go away, and he loves you. He was sorry that I couldn’t go to school. Oh, he was sorry about something terrible Michelle was going to have to deal with, and he hoped we’d forgive him someday.”
Mom’s look was thoughtful as she sipped her coffee.
Ashley continued, “But I have to keep everything I’ve heard quiet? Why?”
“Because we have to stick to another story. No one can know anything other than what’s going to be spread by gossip and published in the papers. It’s going to be awful for you to have to bear, but we’re going to move to Eau Claire and stay with your grandparents for a while so it’s not as difficult. I’ll get a job, and maybe you can too for a while. We have to convey the impression that we’re broke. It could be dangerous for everyone involved if we don’t stick to the story.”
Ashley was almost afraid to ask, but finally she sighed. “You’d better tell me. What is it that Dad has supposedly done?”
“Stolen a bunch of money from investors. You’ve probably heard about something called a Ponzi scheme? Plus, he’s run away with his secretary, Katie O’Neill.”
Ashley’s hand covered her mouth in horror.
Mom grimaced. “I know, Dear. You’re probably thinking about Brian right now. How is he going to take this, I wonder? I couldn’t believe the rotten luck of you two getting together while all these terrible things were happening.”
Ashley covered her face with her hands. What was going to happen? Would she ever see her father again?
And yes, what about Brian?
Mom laid her hand over Ashley’s and waited for her to look into her eyes. “Michelle’s father is dead.”
Ashley couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Oh, no. Poor Michelle. Her dad was such a nice man.”
Mom continued, “They’re calling it a suicide, but your father and I aren’t so sure. That’s why we need to leave town today. There’s a lot going on here that we just don’t understand, but Jake Loughlin’s been helping us out.”
Ashley was puzzled. “Jake Loughlin? The
owner of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn?”
“He’s a former FBI special agent. But I can’t say much more. There are some very dangerous people involved, so we need to keep our distance from Crystal Rock for a while, and make it appear we’re not associating with your father anymore, and don’t know where he is. Jake Loughlin says it’s the only way we have the possibility of staying safe.”
“When are we leaving?”
“This afternoon would be best. I’ve got a friend coming in who will go through the refrigerator and keep an eye on things until we decide if we should even keep the house. I brought home some extra luggage so you can pack. Dad had to use your suitcases.”
“Can I try and talk with Brian and say goodbye? He’s working at the beach.”
Mom held her gaze. “As long as you don’t repeat anything I’ve said. It’s really important Ashley.”
“I promise I won’t say anything, Mom,” Ashley murmured.
“Alright. Maybe he hasn’t been told anything yet, if he’s working this morning.”
The tears were running down Ashley’s face as she ran upstairs to grab her purse.
Mom was looking weary when Ashley came back downstairs.
“Go ahead and take your car, and I’ll start loading the SUV while you’re gone.”
“Will I be able to have my car in Eau Claire?”
“We’ll see. We might trade it in for something more appropriate,” Mom answered.
Ashley nodded, murmuring, “I understand, Mom. Okay, I’ll be back within the hour.”
“Good luck, Dear.”
Ashley remained quiet, heading into the garage.
Although she didn’t have a clue what she was going to say, she had to find a way to say goodbye, she thought, stepping into her car and starting up the engine.
When she arrived at the Dragonfly Pointe Beach fifteen minutes later, she had a difficult time finding a place to park. The weather was still in the eighties, so she should have figured it would be crowded today.
When she stepped out from her car and walked through the parking lot, she could see Brian in the far distance, wearing his sunglasses and looking stern as he stared at the crowded beach.
He knew.
Not the truth, but the story being told about his mother running away with Ashley’s father. She could tell right away from his posture and air of distraction as he gazed back and forth across the lake and along the beach after he’d noticed her approaching.
Well, she had to try and speak with him anyway.
She hesitated, finally calling out, “Brian?”
“Ashley,” he murmured, sounding disapproving.
She pleaded, “Can I at least tell you one thing?”
“What?” he growled.
“I know you’re upset, because I am too. Before you think the worst, remember what we’ve been talking about during the last few days? Think about the conversations you’ve overheard between both of your parents? Read between the lines. Alright?”
“I really don’t have time for this right now,” he answered firmly.
Taking off his sunglasses and catching her gaze, his eyes looked cold and hard.
What she saw in his eyes made her cringe, and as the tears came pouring down her face, she turned.
And ran.
Chapter Nine
Brian would never forget the look in her eyes when he’d sent Ashley away, and it haunted him throughout the remainder of the day.
Whatever had happened hadn’t been her fault. It was mean and petty for him to have behaved the way he had. The pain of their family losing his mother to another man was just so raw, he hadn’t had enough time to even mull it over in his brain.
He was standing in his bedroom later that afternoon when he spotted the keys for the spooky house still sitting on his dresser. He’d meant to give them back to Ashley the other night but had forgotten after the craziness of sharing their first kiss.
Grabbing the keys and stuffing them in his pocket, he ran down the staircase. “Dad? There’s something I need to do. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Dad had started disassembling his office and looked up from the kitchen table where he’d relocated his computer. “That’s fine. Maybe tomorrow we can sit down and discuss how we can go about getting you enlisted. There’s no real hurry, but I expect it would be better to have your situation settled before we’re on our way to Chicago. I would let you live here on your own, if Jake hadn’t said it would be better if we left town before the details of the situation started getting around town.”
“I understand,” Brian murmured, on his way through the doorway into the attached garage. “Yes. Let’s talk tomorrow. I haven’t been able to wrap my head around the situation yet today.”
Dad sighed. “I hear you.”
Closing the door behind him, Brian approached his truck, stepping inside and revving up the engine. Maybe he could take Ashley for a drive.
After he apologized, of course.
He grimaced. What if she didn’t accept his apology? He couldn’t get over the tears she’d shed. But, after all, she was losing her father too, and it had been rather heartless of Brian not to consider it.
Twenty minutes later when he pulled into the driveway of Ashley’s house, he was startled to see the property dark. Even the landscape lighting which was usually aglow at this time of the evening appeared to have been switched off.
For the first time since this morning, Brian felt panic as he stepped out from the truck, approaching the front door.
No one answered the door when he rang the doorbell first, and then knocked.
What had he done?
“Brian?”
He turned to see a woman had pulled her car into the driveway and was approaching him along the sidewalk. It was Jake Loughlin’s wife, Danielle.
“Mrs. Loughlin? Hi. I don’t think they’re home.”
“I’m so sorry, Brian,” she answered. “I’m going to be keeping an eye on the house. I would have thought Ashley would have come by to say goodbye.”
Brian’s eyes went wide. “Goodbye? But where did they go?”
“I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you that, even if I knew,” she answered, hesitating. “Have you heard about Tom Ashford?”
Brian answered, “No. What’s happened?”
She hesitated. “I’m not sure if your dad has heard yet. But I think it might be better coming from him. Okay? Jake isn’t telling me much either, so I don’t know what I can or can’t say to you.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“There’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye. I’m so sorry you couldn’t say goodbye to Ashley. I saw the two of you together at the concert last night, and you both looked so happy.”
Brian hung his head. Now what would he do? All this time he’d wanted Ashley, and when he’d finally come close to having her, he’d blown it.
“Goodnight,” he murmured, turning and heading back towards his truck.
“Brian?” she called out as he was ready to step into his truck. “Whatever you do, don’t give up. If you two care enough for each other, like I think you do, you’ll be together again someday. Crazier things than that have happened in Crystal Rock. I know this, because Jake and I found each other again after fifteen years.”
Brian blinked. “Really?”
She gave him a serene smile. “Really. Good luck to you.”
Brian answered, “Thank you. I wish I could say we weren’t going to need it.”
“Me, too,” she admitted, watching as he revved up the engine and drove away.
He wasn’t ready to go home yet, he decided, turning onto the access road leading around the lake, and Brian still had the keys to the spooktacular house.
Why not?
He was still kind of curious about the place, he had to admit, so maybe he would take another look around and try to think things out. His heart was hurting, which was something he’d never experienced before.
Brian decided to pa
rk along the side of the road since he really didn’t know if it would be considered trespassing or not to investigate the property.
He strolled in from the path leading through the woods, and as Brian approached the house from the other side of the drive, he heard the sound of voices echoing from somewhere below. Apparently, there were some people near the pier where Brian had docked the cruiser the other night.
Moving closer, Brian tried to figure out what was going on. Peeking over the edge of the steep rocky shore, he could see three men arguing where they stood on the dock beside a large luxury cruiser.
One man asked, “If they discovered the body, why haven’t we heard anything on the news?”
Another answered, “I’m sure they’re just contacting his family before announcing it publicly.”
“Frankly, it makes me nervous,” the third man said.
“I’ll guarantee they’ll rule it a suicide. That’s exactly what happened when we were forced to get rid of LaSalle in New Orleans.”
The leader of the group finally spoke. “Well, start getting more creative. The last thing we need are the feds finding us operating here again in Crystal Rock.”
Trying to move away from the edge of the precipice, Brian unintentionally sent loose rock rolling over the edge.
As Brian raced past the house and back through the woods, he could hear two of the men yelling.
“What was that?”
“Someone was listening. Stop him!”
Scrambling into his truck and revving up the engine, Brian raced away from the scene, tires squealing.
Looking in the rearview mirror as he sped away, Brian knew the situation wasn’t over yet when he saw something shiny flashing in one of the man’s hands.
Was that a gun?
But someone had a high intensity beam flashlight, and Brian realized they were probably trying to make out his plate numbers, which of course, with his truck, were already well lit.
He grimaced. What in the hell should he do?
Thinking for a moment, he realized there was someone he could talk to.
Jake Loughlin.
That Incredible Kiss Page 6
