Rotten Apple (Bennett Dynasty Book 1)

by Kate Allenton

  Chapter 32

  Two weeks went by with no trace of my sister in my program. I’d taken as much time as I could babysitting the computer. It almost confirmed the fact that my sister didn’t exist.

  A knock on my door pulled me from my search, and I yanked my door open, this time without the use of my gun. Only my sisters would dare dismiss the no trespassing signs. I was wrong. It appeared none of the Pierces knew how to read.

  Martha and Carter both stood on my stoop. “I really need to talk to Delany about giving out my address.”

  “Don’t worry, dear. We won’t be long,” Martha said as she maneuvered inside with grace and without an invitation.

  Carter patted my arm in passing and lifted his brow as if he didn’t even want to be there.

  “Maxwell only sent one dozen roses?” Martha asked, spying the vase on my counter. “I thought I taught him better than that.”

  “He sent fifteen. I took the rest to the retirement home. Your son must have forgotten that I’m never home and they’ll die. Listen, if you’re here to convince me to give him another chance, I’m sorry, but that boat has sailed.”

  Martha nodded with a sly smile and met Carter’s gaze. “Why is that, dear?”

  I rested my hands on my waist. “He lost faith in me.”

  “Darling, he didn’t lose faith in you,” Martha said, taking my hands in hers. “He fired FDG because he saw what happened to the other operatives. It would have killed him if you’d gotten hurt too.”

  “You’re lying. He blamed it on me. The fact she was taken, the fact that Robin was living in the same house, and we never suspected a thing. It was my fault. I get it.”

  “You think you failed him,” Carter interjected, sliding his hands into his pockets as if he’d figured out some significant realization.

  “I did. I failed you all. Especially Petunia.”

  Carter’s gaze went to the coloring book page on my fridge. “You’re in denial. You saved her from a killer. You saved him from a life of nothing but work, and you saved my sister from marrying the wrong guy. She called off the wedding and they’re going to counseling. You won’t even talk to Max for Christ’s sake. Let him fix this, Gwen. You and I both know that you two belong together. Stop being so damn hardheaded.” Carter tilted his head. Silence lingered until he spoke again. “Who’s the spirit crusher now?”

  If Martha hadn’t been in my house to witness this exchange, Carter and I might have gotten a lot more vocal about the situation.

  “Come clean and tell her the rest, dear,” Martha said.

  “Fine.” Carter slid his hands out of his pockets. “The new employees on the production line and the scholarships weren’t my idea. They were all Max.”

  “You’re smart, dear. I’m sure you’ll figure this all out. But in the meantime, Maxwell had mentioned holes in my security.” She handed me a file. “You had offered to close those holes at one point. I’d still appreciate your help. Maybe this time you can enjoy the island longer.”

  I peeked in the file and grinned. It was Martha’s own personal approval for my presence on the island, with lifetime access.

  “We have dignitaries coming next month, so if you could squeeze us in, we’d appreciate it. Isn’t that right, Carter?”

  Carter didn’t answer. He just stared at me.

  “Carter?” Martha nudged his arm. “Tell her.”

  “Of course, we’d appreciate your help.”

  “We appreciate your time, Gwen.” Martha headed for the door. “I’ll save Maxwell’s room for when you’re ready to work. I hear that you enjoyed the view from that room.”

  Martha walked out, leaving Carter and me in the living room.

  “Max didn’t blame you, Gwen. He blamed himself for distracting you. My brother can be difficult some times. He can be headstrong, opinionated, and a cranky SOB, but there’s one thing beyond all that, that will stop him in his tracks.”

  “Family,” I answered, already knowing the answer.

  “Family,” Carter repeated. “Give the guy a break. He cares about you and misses you, and it was a hard time.”

  “You’re making your mother wait,” I said and gestured to the door.

  Carter shook his head. “I’m going.” He grabbed the knob to close the door behind him and turned one last time. He glanced around my bare house. “You deserve more, Gwen. There isn’t a mission they can assign you that will turn these empty walls into a place you can really call home. Max…Max can do that.” Carter winked as he shut the door.

  I peeked out the window and watched as the Town Car pulled down my drive. Martha and Carter tag teaming me had been a stroke of genius. I could have dismissed one, but with the two of them together, they’d sunk in their claws and hadn’t let up.

  The blinds snapped back into place, and I opened the envelope to look at what I’d need to do on the island. Between the documents were two pictures. Both of me and Max. Stills from the security in Carter’s house. Close-ups of the two of us and the love and desire in our eyes. That was something that couldn’t be faked.

  Carter was good, but Martha, with this final touch, had driven the nail in my coffin. I slipped the pictures out and dropped the rest of the packet on the counter. My heart clenched tight. I could live forever if he stared at me like that, and I’d been about to flush this potential down the drain. What the hell had I been thinking?

  I glanced at my watch and sighed. I was going to be late to Ms. Delany’s assignment meeting again. I grabbed my keys and left the house, driving back to the office. Jumping out of my car, I headed into the building, taking the stairs two at a time until I reached the floor.

  I’d expected the cubicles to be empty. We’d taken a significant hit on the Pierce case with drugged operatives. Luckily, none had been fatal. People sat in front of their computers as if they hadn’t been asked to attend the meeting.

  “Was the meeting canceled?” I asked as Rose appeared by my side.

  “Nope. Only one assignment, and she’s giving him to you,” Rose said and patted my arm. “Good luck.”

  I shoved open the door to find Ms. Delany talking to Max. My heartbeat quickened and a lump formed in my throat.

  “You’re late,” she said, glancing at her watch.

  “Is he your only client?” I asked.

  Ms. Delany clasped her hands together. “Yes.”

  “Great. Give him to someone else, I don’t mix personal with professional,” I said, spinning on my heels and heading back toward my office, not stopping until I hit the elevator. It opened, and I stepped on.

  It had almost closed when Max threw out his hand and stopped it from closing. He stepped inside. “Wow, now I know how Carter felt.”

  “I’m sure Ms. Delany has other people that can help you, Max. We both know it’s not going to be me.”

  He hit the stop button on the elevator, and it jerked to a stop. “You aren’t returning my phone calls.”

  “I was hurt, Counselor.”

  “And the flowers?” he asked.

  “I’m never home long enough to take care of them.” I glanced in his direction. “You already knew that. The old ladies in the retirement home are very appreciative though.”

  “Amelia called off the wedding.”

  I swallowed around the forming lump in my throat. “It was probably wise. Be sure to tell her I burned the incriminating pictures.”

  “You did?”

  “Of course,” I answered. “So, is there anything else?”

  Max pulled the locket out of his pocket and dangled it. “Petunia asks about you. She knows you saved her.”

  “She’s a good kid,” I answered, reaching around Max and pushing the button to get it moving again. “Listen, Max, I get it. If that had been my family, I would have yelled, too, and fired me. In the end, our friends and family are all that we’ve got. They’re all that matter. So”—I sighed—“we’re good.”

  “So, you’ll take my case?” he asked.

  “No.”
I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the elevator when it dinged.

  “Why not? I haven’t even told you what the case consists of.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said, leaving the elevator and the building. Stepping into the sunlight, I lowered my sunglasses over my eyes. “I don’t mix personal with business anymore, and I plan for us to get very personal. Besides I’ve already got an assignment.”

  “You do plan for us to get personal? I’ve missed you, Gwen. I hope you aren’t telling me that just to get me to go away?”

  “Do you think I’d need to lie to get you to go away?” My heart clenched at his words. I’d missed him more than my next breath. It would be easy to watch him suffer a little longer without letting him off the hook.

  “Give up the assignment. Let’s fix this, Gwen. I need you like you need your guns. I crave you. I miss you. I miss us.” His gaze landed on my lips.

  I raised my glasses to look into his eyes. “You want me to cancel my consulting job for your mom to fix the blind spots on the island? I’m not sure your mom would be so understanding.”

  “Working for my mother isn’t working for me,” he countered.

  “Good. She put me up in your suite. I’d hate to sleep in that big bed by myself. Like I said, we’re about to get personal, Counselor. I didn’t read those two books for nothing.”

  “So, exactly when was it you decided to forgive me? How many of those dozen roses did the trick?” he asked.

  “None of them.” I patted his chest and lowered my sunglasses. “You can thank your mom and Carter. He is good at getting what he wants and now I know who taught him that trick.”

  “My brother sure can be persuasive. What did he do?”

  “He came clean and told me that you were the one behind hiring the women for the production line and that you were the one extending the scholarships.”

  “That wasn’t his secret to tell,” Max said.

  “I know.”

  “I’ve missed you, Gwen.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him to where our mouths were a breath apart. “Tonight, on the jet, you can show me how much.”

  He grinned as his lips met mine in a kiss that heated me from the inside out. He nibbled on my bottom lip before breaking the kiss. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  ****

  Max and I lay on the beach chairs, sipping fruity drinks with umbrellas. The security overhaul hadn’t taken much. A few strategically placed cameras around the vulnerable spots and I was officially off the clock.

  The afternoon heat was nothing compared to the man rubbing sun tan lotion on my back. His hands glided over me like a lover memorizing each and every curve.

  “What are you going to do about Fillpot’s invitation?”

  “Since he helped me with Petunia, he’s already contacted me. He needs my help finding someone.”

  “That shouldn’t be hard for you,” Max said as his fingers slipped beneath my bikini strap.

  “Shouldn’t is the operative word. I know where my sister is. She’s in a grave next to my parents.”

  Max’s fingers stilled. “I don’t understand.”

  I rolled in the chair and stared up into Max’s beautiful blue eyes. “Neither do I, but I will…. that’s a promise.”

  Max lowered his lips to meet mine and kissed me in a way that made our heated days blur into night.

  If you’ve enjoyed Rotten Apple, Bennett Dynasty Book 1, keep reading for a sneak peek at the unedited beginning of Cassie’s book.

  Bennett Book 2

  Cassie

  Chapter 1

  “Cassie, I swear I’ve checked all the bars and strip joints and I can’t find him anywhere. Please help me.” Maria Griner begged, just like she did every time her husband didn’t check in.

  “Maria,” I sighed and pasted a caring smile on my face. She was not only a client, but she was a friend. “He’s never going to change. How long has he been missing this time?”

  “Since he got off his shift at five,” Maria answered.

  Only talking a matter of hours. Not even enough time to call in a missing person’s report. “He’s probably at the bar.”

  “I promise, I checked. He told me he was coming straight home. It’s our anniversary. He’d never miss that. I made his favorite dinner.”

  Damn it. Their anniversary. Harold needed a good kick in the ass.

  “Please, find him. I can feel in my gut something’s wrong.” She visibly swallowed as her gaze pleaded with mine.

  He’s probably passed out in a men’s room somewhere or draped over a bar. That might explain her feeling. “Maria, three hours is hardly cause for concern. He could have gone for drinks with the other guys from work.”

  “Cassie. If it was one of your loved ones, you’d do whatever you could to make sure they’re okay.”

  I nibbled my bottom lip between my teeth. Finding Harold was normally quite easy. It was sobering him up and returning him home that was the hard part.

  I held out my hand and Maria dug in her purse and pulled out Harold’s favorite blue shirt. It was weathered to where it almost looked white. The band logo faded long ago. There was a hole in the hem, but I guess it was better than their kinky pink handcuffs she’d brought last time.

  What’s sad was, that wasn’t the weirdest thing I’d ever used. “This might take a while. You should go home and get some rest. I’ll call when I find him and deliver him to your door.”

  I led her out of my house and to her car. The moon was high in the sky. The residents on the streets inside their homes with curtains drawn closed for the night. If I’d ignored the door, I would still be on the couch eating my sandwich and reading my book. It was the way I liked to unwind.

  I waved as she pulled out of the drive before heading back inside and to the map that was open on the table. It was a street map of Delhurst. This wouldn’t take long, not since I knew that the shirt had worked before.

  I slipped the crystal off my neck and held it above the map in one hand and Harold’s shirt in the other. Normally images of places would pop right into my head. Sometimes it took a bit of time and even still there were times when all I had to go by was my crystal.

  The crystal started to move on its own accord, swinging and arcing in the air until it landed with a thud at the Delhurst landfill.

  “I must be off my game. There wasn’t anything around the property for miles, much less a bar and no way was Harold working over time.” I shook my head and tried again.

  Two more times it landed in the same spot and I wouldn’t question it again. Maybe it was possible that Harold had thrown away or even possible that Harold was passed out and laying among the trash.

  I made a gagging sound as a shiver racked down my spine. The thought of the smell alone was enough to make me reconsider and still I jogged upstairs and pulled out clothes fit to wear for searching the town dump. Satisfied with my rain boots, medical face mask, rubber gloves for washing dishes, and my bathroom plunger so I wouldn’t have to touch anything, I was as prepared as I’d ever be. Thank god the neighbors were all tucked inside their houses. My get up would have me on the front page of the daily paper with the quote. This Bennett has officially lost her mind.

  I drove out of town to the dump to find the place locked up tight and Harold’s car nowhere around. I tossed my plunger over the fence and let out a string of cuss words beneath my breath as I climbed.

  A front-end loader sat off in the distance. A flock of vultures spiraled overhead swooping up and down as if a meal was hidden beneath the debris. The stench of rotten food sweltering beneath the hot sun earlier today, drove the stink factor to an almost unbearable level. With plunger in hand, I began walking toward the mounds of trash.

  “I should have made Maria come with me.” I grumbled beneath my breath with plunger in hand walking toward the trash. I wasn’t just going to have to sober Harold up, I was going to have to hose him off. I let out a breath into the medical mask covering my mout
h. It did little to kill the smell, but I hadn’t been able to find any clothespin for my nose.

  I climbed the closest mound as if it were a mountain to get a better view. With each step, I prodded with my plunger before taking the step. Used diapers spilled out of one of the trash bags. Broken toys, empty cans, old clothing, even broken playground equipment made up this pile. Whatever was further beneath, I didn’t want to know.

  My rubber rain boots were no match for broken glass or concrete. It was official. I had lost my ever lovin-mind.

  Reaching the top of the mound I stood on shaky ground. My feet sinking a little further into god only knew what. I turned carefully in place scanning the other mounds. Nothing.

  When a bird squawked, I followed it’s decent where it was picking its food. The mask did little to cover my gasp. I’d found Harold. Laying in a pool of blood.

  I moved too fast, grabbing my phone as I tried to scurry down the trash pile to see if he was still alive. My foot slipped and I tumbled and rolled down the trash slide, until I too was laying in the ravine below.

  “I’m going to need a tetanus shot.” I said standing and grabbing my phone again as I hurried to Harold’s side.

  The blood had drained from his face. His eyes open and glazed white. My heartbeat momentarily paused while staring at the red splattered hundred-dollar bill pinned in place and being held by a garden trowel sticking out of his chest.

  Chapter 2

  I sat idly in an interrogation room. Picking a popsicle stick from my matted hair, I tossed it into the garbage can at my feet. Detective Jimbo Jones had been kind enough to let me use the washroom and wash my face before sticking me in the confined space, but even a little splash of water was no match for the smell my deodorant did little to mask.

  Running my hands through my hair, I pulled out a grape and tossed it into the trashcan just as the door opened again. Jimbo walked in with another man I’d yet to meet.