Wicked Reunion

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Well ... I’m here to apologize.”

  Brian’s eyebrows hopped. “Really? Are you here to apologize because you mean it or because your chief forced you? For the record, I happen to know the man and I have a great deal of respect for him. Er, well, I had a great deal of respect for him. After seeing your service record, that’s kind of fallen by the wayside.”

  Archibald worked his jaw. “From your point of view, I can understand that.”

  Jack narrowed his eyes. There was something off about the man. At first, he thought he was a Grade-A douche. Now, though ... he wanted to play his hunch. “How long have you been undercover?”

  Archibald was a good actor, but he couldn’t hide his surprise. “Excuse me?” he sputtered.

  “You’re undercover,” Jack offered, matter-of-fact. “You’re investigating someone in the Bellaire Police Department. Brian swears by the chief, so it must be someone else. I’m guessing the chief is in on it because no one else would put up with your record ... even if the bulk of it is fabricated.”

  Archibald’s cheeks turned pink and even though the office was cool, beads of sweat were apparent on his forehead. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”

  “I don’t,” Jack countered. “You’re undercover. I’m guessing for the state police. What I want to know is why? More importantly, I want to know if all this crap you’ve been pulling with my fiancée is part of your act. If not, I might have to break your knees.”

  Archibald looked as if he hoped a hole would open up beneath him and swallow him whole. “I think you’ve been sniffing too much glue.” He was full of false bravado. “Or perhaps you’re inhaling all those herbs your girlfriend grows in her greenhouse. Yeah, I took a look in there. I hope there’s nothing illegal in those pots because she’s on probation.”

  Anger coursed through Jack and he flexed his fingers as he fought to maintain control of his temper. “You’re good,” he said after a beat. “You’re very good at annoying people. I mean ... you could win an Oscar you’re so good. I know what you’re doing, though. You’re trying to distract me so I’ll stop a line of questioning that you find distinctly uncomfortable. Just for the record, that’s not going to happen.”

  Archibald scowled. “Listen ... .”

  “No, you listen.” Jack shook his head, firm. “I’m not new. I’ve been a part of a similar investigation. Your record is all screwed up. It makes zero sense. Do you want to know why? Because a numbers pusher put it together instead of a trained investigator. I know you’re undercover. There’s no sense denying it.”

  In a last-ditch effort to save himself, Archibald turned to Brian. “Do you believe this? Your partner is crazy. That must be why he’s with that pink-haired jailbird.”

  Brian didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he folded his arms over his chest. “The more you argue, the more I agree with my partner. You’re definitely undercover ... and you’re freaking out because we figured it out. There’s no sense lying to us, son. You might as well tell us the truth.”

  “Listen, I’m just here to apologize because my chief thought it was a good idea.” Archibald pushed himself to a standing position. “I’m not here to play any other games.”

  “That’s good.” Jack remained in his chair, tilted back, relaxed. “I’m over the games, too. I want you to sit down and tell me what’s going on ... and I’d better like the story because I’m at my wit’s end given the games you’ve been playing with Ivy. She could’ve been legitimately hurt yesterday, or even killed. I want you to talk ... and talk now.”

  “I have nothing else to say.” Archibald was blasé. “I think you might be losing your mind. I’m here to apologize at the behest of my chief. That’s it.”

  “Fine.” Jack’s tone was icy. “I’ll just figure it out on my own. I know it has something to do with Bethany Parker, although I’m guessing you didn’t realize it would go that way before you went undercover. I will find answers, though. I’ll tap every contact I have with the state, and believe me, I have quite a few of them because of my former partner.”

  “You mean the partner who shot you in the chest and left you for dead, right?”

  “That would be the one,” Jack replied, not missing a beat. “I know what I know. You’re undercover. Whoever you’re investigating is a threat to Ivy. I’ll die to keep her safe. I can promise you that. So, if I’m willing to die for her, I obviously don’t care what happens to your investigation.”

  Archibald shuffled toward the door, only stopping when his fingers were already wrapped around the handle. “You can’t do this,” he said finally, his voice low. “You’re going to completely blow this operation out of the water if you push things.”

  Jack wanted to crow. He was right. Somehow, though, he managed to keep his expression neutral. “I don’t want to ruin your investigation. I do want to keep my fiancée safe. There has to be a way for us to work together on this.”

  “There isn’t.” Archibald’s back was still to them. “You need to leave it alone.”

  “Not when you’re threatening the one thing in this world I love above all else.”

  The sigh Archibald let loose was long and drawn out. “Geez. You guys should be on a soap opera or something. I mean ... seriously.” When he finally turned around, his expression was rueful. “What is it with the two of you?”

  “We love each other,” Jack replied simply. “That means we do stupid things to protect one another. I’m willing to burn my career to protect her. Make no mistake, I will blow up your operation if you don’t tell me.”

  “Man.” Archibald rubbed his forehead and slipped back into the chair he’d vacated only seconds before. “This is a complete and total mess. I told the chief it was going to end up this way, but he wouldn’t listen.”

  “Who are you investigating?” Jack pressed.

  “My partner,” Archibald replied on a sigh. “I’m investigating Gordon Halsey.”

  Brian was dumbfounded. “No way. I’ve known him for years. I wouldn’t say we’re friendly, but I’ve never heard any whispers about him.”

  “That’s because he’s been careful. The chief has been harboring suspicions for years, though. Halsey is smart. It’s hard for anyone to get close to him ... except for me, because I’m the one who took the fall for him several years ago when he shot a suspect at a drug house.”

  Brian’s mouth dropped open. “Halsey shot that woman?”

  Archibald nodded. “I agreed to take the fall because I thought it was a minor incident. She survived but with significant lingering injuries, to the point where she not only didn’t go to prison but successfully sued the department. That derailed my career forever.

  “I was shipped around after that, had trouble finding a job, until the state police approached me with an idea,” he continued. “They knew that Halsey was the one who shot her. I don’t know how they knew, but they did. They suggested I could still be a good cop if I agreed to go undercover and sniff out bad cops ... so that’s what I did.”

  Jack swallowed hard. It was confirmation of everything he’d been able to suss out himself, but he was still mired in disbelief. “What do they suspect Halsey of doing?”

  “Everything. There’s a big meth problem in our area. I’m sure you’re aware.”

  Jack nodded. “People are cooking in the country now because it’s easier to hide the smell.”

  “And people are struggling up here financially,” Archibald added. “There are no factories like there used to be. There’s no easy way for people to make a good living for their families. Everything is automated ... and bought over the internet ... and regular jobs just don’t exist. That makes people who are already living on the edge tip over.”

  “So ... what?” Brian queried. “Halsey is running drugs to give these people jobs?”

  “I’m sure that’s what he believes. Technically I haven’t proven that he’s doing it yet. I have my suspicions ... and even a few facts. I don’t have enough to put him away y
et.”

  “How does Bethany Parker play into this?” Jack challenged. “Why did he shoot her? He did shoot her, right? That’s the only thing that makes sense.”

  Archibald bobbed his head. “He knew that the investigation was getting close. He knew that Bethany was ready to squeal to save herself. She wanted out. He didn’t know I was her contact, but he knew that she was going to meet somebody. That’s why he tried to end her that day.”

  “That’s also why she feigned ignorance in the hospital with Ivy,” Jack mused. “She was afraid to say anything.”

  Archibald nodded. “I thought if I could make Halsey believe that I was focused on you and your girlfriend that it would give me a bit of breathing room. I know I acted like a jackass but ... I needed to keep up my jerky cover. I’m sorry if I upset your girlfriend. I really am. I have to take him down, though.”

  “I get that.” Jack believed Archibald. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean he liked his methods. “You still terrorized her. You followed her.”

  “I followed her because Halsey was following her and I wanted to make sure he didn’t do something to her. She didn’t see him, though. He’s a lot more dangerous than me.”

  Jack’s heart skipped a beat. “And yesterday? You were a mess when we saw you. Did you chase her in the woods?”

  “I was chasing Halsey. I didn’t even realize he was chasing her. I thought he was spying on her. I had to stay far enough back that he didn’t detect me. If I’d known she was out there, I would’ve helped her. I swear it.”

  Jack wasn’t sure he believed him. “I think you only care about your case.”

  “You’re wrong. I want to be a good cop. I made a mistake taking the fall for Halsey years ago. I thought I was backing up my partner. I know better now. I’m trying to right a wrong here.”

  “By terrorizing my fiancée.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt her.” Archibald was appropriately contrite. “Honestly, I wanted Halsey to think I was out to get her for obvious reason. I thought she would be fine because of you.”

  “Well ... she’s pretty far from fine. She’s hurt ... and afraid ... and ... .” Jack broke off when Susan started whispering in his ear again.

  “And what?” Archibald prodded.

  “Son of a ... .” Jack viciously swore under his breath and got to his feet. “Where is your partner right now?” he barked.

  Archibald was taken aback, confusion etched across his features. “I don’t know. Why does it matter?”

  “Because someone is trying to break into our house and I’m betting it’s him.” Jack hurried around his desk and blew past Archibald on his way to the hallway. “I will kill him if he touches her.”

  Archibald was legitimately baffled as he scrambled to keep up with Brian. “I don’t understand any of this. He definitely wasn’t looking at his phone this time.”

  “Join the party, son. I never understand anything about those two. It doesn’t change the fact that Ivy is most likely in trouble ... and we’ve got to get to her.”

  “But ... my case.”

  “Ivy is more important than your case. We’re taking your partner down now regardless. You can either help or hide behind your orders. It’s your choice.”

  For Archibald, there was no choice. “Let’s do this. I’m so ready to put this behind me.”

  19

  Nineteen

  “It’s Halsey.”

  Ivy was beyond confused. She wished Susan had hung around long enough for her to question the ghost on why exactly she thought the detective was a threat.

  “That’s not the detective who has been giving you a hard time?” Felicity queried.

  Ivy shook her head. “No, that’s the other one. I thought ... well, I thought he was a good guy, or at least decent.” She was thoughtful as she stared at the man. He was facing the back of the house, looking toward her bedroom rather than the kitchen. “We need to arm ourselves.” She gestured toward the knife block on the counter. “I don’t know what good knives are going to do against a gun, but we have to try.”

  Felicity studied her niece for a beat and then nodded. “We only have to hold him off long enough for Jack and Brian to get here. Then we’ll be safe.”

  Would they? Ivy wasn’t so sure. “They could be walking into an ambush. Halsey could hide in the bushes and try to pick them off when they park.”

  “We can’t think about that right now,” Dorian argued. “We have to protect ourselves.”

  “I won’t sacrifice Jack.” Ivy’s eyes flashed hot. “He’s already been shot ... and by a cop. I won’t let it happen again.”

  Felicity had sympathy for her niece’s plight, but she couldn’t help feeling that Ivy was getting caught up on ridiculous details. “We have to keep ourselves alive. We can position ourselves in a place to watch for Jack, warn him, but we can’t stay here.”

  Ivy understood that. Still, fear froze her. “Jack.” She whispered his name and briefly shut her eyes, only opening them when she felt something being pressed into her hand. It was one of the larger knives from the block.

  “Jack is going to be fine,” Dorian reassured her. He was calm despite the circumstances. “I happen to believe that some things are destiny. From everything I’ve heard, that includes you and Jack. He won’t be taken from you.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  “I feel it here.” He tapped the spot above his heart. “I’ve only briefly met Jack and yet I have faith in him. I shouldn’t have more faith than you.”

  Ivy scowled, frustration bubbling up. “I have faith in him.”

  “Then prove it. You know this house better than anyone. Where is the best place to hide so that we can warn Jack?”

  Ivy knew it was her job to keep Jack safe so she sucked in a breath and nodded. “The library. The window is closest to the driveway and we can push the shelves in front of the door. It won’t hold him off forever, but it will give us time.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

  “I NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON HERE,” Archibald complained from the backseat of Brian’s cruiser. The older detective had insisted on driving because he didn’t believe Jack was capable of safely navigating the roads, he was so overwrought. They were still eight minutes out from the cottage and even though he didn’t have a psychic bone in his body, Brian could feel the weight of Ivy’s fate on his shoulders.

  “Ivy is in trouble,” Brian replied simply. “That’s all you need to know.”

  “But how do you know that?” Archibald couldn’t let it go. “She didn’t text you this time. If you’re going to try to run that story after the fact, I’m not going to believe it. I didn’t really believe it the first time, if you want to know the truth.”

  Brian hesitated and slid a glance toward his partner. Jack’s hands were clenched into fists on his lap, his knuckles white. He didn’t look as if he was up to spinning a good yarn to protect Ivy. It was up to Brian ... and he had nothing. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Why do you care?”

  “Because I want to know.” Archibald’s eyes were on fire. “He knew that she was in trouble yesterday. I thought he was just being dramatic, perhaps putting on a show or something, but he managed to find her in the middle of a freaking forest. She was injured and needed to be carried out. How did he know that?”

  “I ... .”

  “Ivy and I are connected,” Jack answered. “I can feel her.” It was a ridiculous statement and yet he didn’t care. “She needs me ... and probably because your partner is trying to kill her. I swear to you, if he puts one hand on her, I will rip his head from his body.”

  Archibald believed him. The vehemence ... well ... it was a thing to behold. And still he couldn’t rein in his incredulity. “Are you saying you’re psychic?”

  “I’m saying that she’s in trouble and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. If you don’t want to be part of the team, then stay out of the way.”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t want to be part o
f the team.” Archibald flicked his eyes to Brian. “Do you buy into this?”

  Brian nodded without hesitation. “Yes, I do. If Jack says Ivy is in trouble, then it’s true. We have to get to her, because I don’t trust your partner to leave her alive. Do you?”

  “I ... .” Archibald worked his jaw and then shook his head. “No. He’s going to go after Bethany in the hospital just as soon as he knocks Ivy out. If I know him at all, he’s regretting letting her live ... especially because she’s been sticking her nose into the investigation. He’s been seething over it.”

  “And yet you’re the one who pretended to be upset,” Jack noted.

  “Make no mistake, I didn’t want your girlfriend digging into my business. I knew it wasn’t safe. I made sure to put my emotions out there, though, because that’s what’s expected of me. I was never a danger to her.”

  “And yet you put your hands on her.”

  Archibald squirmed. He was uncomfortable constantly being pinned on that one detail. “It was a mistake,” he said finally. “I shouldn’t have done it. Is that what you want to hear?”

  “I want to hear her voice.” Jack was ragged. “I want to see her. I just ... go faster, Brian. You drive like my grandmother.”

  Brian arched a confrontational eyebrow but didn’t argue. Instead, he pressed harder on the accelerator. “It’s going to be okay,” he assured his partner. “She’s going to be fine. She’s been in worse situations than this.”

  Jack knew that was probably true. It didn’t make him feel better, though. “We should already be there.”

  ONCE IN THE LIBRARY, DORIAN AND FELICITY immediately started moving furniture in front of the door. Given her injury, Ivy couldn’t help. Instead, she propped herself on the table under the window and stared out. She was desperate to see Jack, to the point where she had an idea.

  “I think I should talk to him.”

  “What?” Felicity wiped her sweaty brow as she glanced up. “Who? Jack? We’ve already established that we can’t make a call.”