He’d found her stash and broke a few of them on her. They’d both been dripping wet by the time they ran out of balloons. That was Luella, spontaneous, worry-free, always looking for her next source of laughter. That day the source had been him.
Later, he’d found out his mother had told her he’d had a rotten day. He’d talked to his mother after he left work because she’d left a message asking him to stop for a pound of hamburger meat for dinner.
He and Luella had been so close growing up. And now she was dead. All her bubbly life had been taken from her.
Yeah. She was worth telling Rachel about his ex-wife.
“After we were married, she told me she wasn’t pregnant. She tried to tell me she had a miscarriage, but when I asked her to show me her medical records, she wouldn’t produce them. That led to a long fight. Finally, she confessed and said the only way I’d marry her is if she told me she was pregnant.”
Rachel’s mouth dropped open, an automatic response.
“I got a divorce,” he said. “But that didn’t get me back in SEAL training.”
Now Rachel shook her head. “Why do people lie about things like that?”
“She fought for me to stay married to her, too.” He scoffed at the audacity.
“I might be able to forgive but, yeah, never able to trust or love that person again. If anyone can carry out a lie that size, what else are they willing to do to get their way?”
She meant Jared. Like her, Lucas had learned the hard way that people could say things that sounded believable when inside their thoughts ran another agenda. His ex had been that way. He’d believed her teary profession that she was pregnant, that she was so sorry, that she hadn’t planned on it happening. The one thing he believed most was her claim that she hadn’t been thinking when they slept together. He hadn’t, either. But she had been thinking afterward.
He recalled how she’d pursued him, a hot navy SEAL trainee. Young. Virile. She’d been upset when he’d told her he quit. She wanted a SEAL for a husband. No doubt she’d have enjoyed his deployments, freeing her up for affairs.
“You’re really upset about that,” Rachel said.
He looked down to see the steaming cup she offered. “I made a mistake quitting. I’m not a quitter, but the SEALs see it differently.”
“You think you should have married her and not quit.”
“Yes. I’d have learned she lied either way.”
“You put fatherhood first. There’s nothing shameful about that. She lied to you. You did nothing wrong.”
“Justify it any way you like. The fact remains that I quit.”
“There are worse things in life.”
“Dying. That’s it.”
She sipped her coffee. “Well, you didn’t die, so be thankful instead of bitter. There’s nothing you can do to change the past.”
Everything happens for a reason? “Is that how you view your juvenile record?”
Holding the cup with both hands, she averted her gaze and then returned it to him. “I’m not perfect. I wish I could change my past, but yes, I know I can’t.”
“You’re bitter about it?”
“No, not bitter. Just...regretful. I used to be angry at the world and the universe and God for killing my parents. Now... I realize it’s just...life.”
They shared a long look. She seemed so good. Nice. Honest. Nothing like what he’d expected. Maybe he should give her a chance. Maybe he should tell her the truth.
He’d just gotten finished telling her how his ex-wife had lied to him. She could see how much that had hurt him. How could he do the same to someone else? Granted, his lie wasn’t as life-altering as his ex’s, but it was still a lie.
She stepped toward him, reaching for his face, caressing him, and then pressed her body to him.
“Rachel...” How could he begin?
“Shh.” Her forefinger ran across his lips and stopped in the middle. Then she slid her hand around to the back of his neck as she rose up onto her toes to kiss him.
“There’s something...” I need to tell you stayed in his mind as she opened her mouth and kissed him in earnest.
He drew her closer, intense passion firing. Just a little more of this and then he’d tell her. He felt her fingers in his hair, felt her move as though yearning to be closer. Kissing her became strained. He wanted her naked. Sexual desire gnawed at him.
“This is crazy,” she whispered against his mouth.
He kissed her. Crazy. Yes. She had no idea.
“Why do you turn me on so much?” She dug her fingers into his hair again, pressing him to her mouth for another firecracker kiss.
“I want you so much,” she said. “I’ve never felt this kind of passion before.” And then, with that, she stepped back, her hands still on his chest as though stopping touching him was the most difficult thing she’d ever had to do. “Why you?”
Logic sank through the drugging desire. What a question. He didn’t have an answer. He could ask the same about her. Why her?
Chapter 4
Rachel couldn’t stop thinking about Luke. Over dinner he’d been so obsessed with her job at the insurance company she wondered if he had something wrong with him. Would he turn into a stalker or something equally weird or more dangerous? But then that inexplicable attraction she had, and he for her—she felt it between them, a living thing that kept expanding. That was what made her invite him in.
Talking the way they had changed her perception of him. He’d revealed himself, more than he had so far. Where before she felt he’d played a role, last night she’d gotten to know the real Luke Bradbury. And she liked him.
Leaving the break room toward the end of her workday, she started down the hall toward her desk. Hearing a laugh that sounded like Marcy’s, she stopped and headed in its direction. Might as well say good-night.
“I know. She thinks this is real,” Marcy said. “Like we’re all really her friends.”
Rachel stopped short on the other side to the cubicle wall.
“What’s Joseph going to do when she finds out?” another woman asked.
Was she talking about Rachel? She had to be.
Rachel felt coldness spread through her face, and prickles of apprehension sank down her arms, making her hands tremble.
“Hire somebody else, I guess. I’m not going back to work for him. He knows I want the job in Legal.”
They were talking about her. No.
Betrayal snaked into her. In seconds she added up what this meant.
“Why did Lucas lie to her? Why not tell the truth?” Marcy’s friend asked.
Yeah, Rachel wanted to know the same thing. Lucas? Was that his real name? He’d lied to her about his name? His identity?
“His ex-wife’s been calling, did you know that?” Marcy didn’t answer her friend’s question.
“No. Are they getting back together?”
Rachel swam in confusion. Who was this man? Did his ex-wife really lie to him? Had he made it all up?
“I bet she’d like that. Who wouldn’t? He’s hot.”
“And rich.”
The two laughed in borderline giggles.
“I almost feel sorry for Rachel,” Marcy’s friend said.
“She’s going to find out what he’s up to eventually,” Marcy said. “It won’t be too hard for her to figure out.”
“Did Joseph tell you why Lucas wanted him to hire her or why they lied about who they were?” Marcy’s friend asked her question again.
“No, but I heard Lucas joined some hotshot private detective agency. Have you heard about that guy whose daughter was kidnapped and killed a few years ago? Kadin Tandy?”
“No. Who is he?”
“He’s famous for his involvement in cold cases. Dark Alley In
vestigations is the name of his agency. He only takes cold cases. People go to him for help in finding their lost kids or family members, or to help them solve their murders.”
“Really? Lucas was sexy before, but that makes him even more so. Maybe we should tell Rachel about him. Have you seen the way he looked at her yesterday?” Rachel pictured Marcy’s friend fanning her face in her pause. “Could have lit the place on fire.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah. I don’t even think he’s aware of what he’s doing.”
Marcy’s cell phone chimed. “Gotta go. My new boss is texting me.”
“Don’t stir up any trouble,” her friend said.
Marcy laughed softly and left the cube. She saw Rachel and froze.
Rachel pivoted and headed for Joseph’s office. He was still in his meeting. She didn’t care. She went to the boardroom and flung the door open so hard it banged against the wall.
Joseph sat at the head of the conference room table, four other men in suits lining both sides. He looked up at her and didn’t have to be told what she’d just found out.
“Why did Lucas lie to me?” Of course, she already knew. This must have something to do with her job at the insurance company. And Jared...
“Rachel.” Joseph stood up while the other four men watched in riveted interest. “I didn’t want to go along with this.”
“Why?” She felt tears threaten and refused to give in to them now.
“Lucas should explain it to you. I warned him not to lie to you. I told him he should be honest.”
He wasn’t going to tell her. Rachel turned and walked fast to her cubicle—no, not her cubicle, Marcy’s cubicle. Except Marcy wouldn’t take her job back, one she’d had to vacate to allow for this farce to play out.
“Rachel, we found out about you and Jared, and Lucas wanted to try and get you to talk about it.”
Talk about what? What about her and Jared. Not needing to hear another word, afraid of what might come to light, she grabbed her purse and hurried for the exit.
Joseph followed her. “Rachel. Just let us both explain.”
She reached the front entrance, security guards and a few visitors stopping what they were doing to watch.
Joseph took hold of her arm and stopped her.
Rachel looked away but didn’t try to pull away. He’d seemed so nice to her, like a father figure. That stung most of all.
“I told him what a lovely young woman you are. You aren’t what he initially thought. I knew this would end badly. And now it has, and I regret my part in it. I offer you my sincerest apology. Please believe I have tremendous respect for you and sympathize with all you’ve been through. You are a kind, giving and brave woman. I can only ask that someday you’ll forgive at least me.”
That softened her marginally, but not enough to make up for the hurt.
“I thought this was for real,” she said, tears threatening again. The last time she’d cried was the last night she’d spent in jail.
“It can be. The job is still yours if you want it. Take all the time you need.” With that he let go of her arm.
Rachel saw genuine regret and apology in him and had to believe he’d meant what he said.
“Unfortunately, I think it’s too late.” She turned and left the building, wiping a tear away, angry it had slipped free.
She walked to a faraway bus stop and finally boarded, staring out the window all the way to the stop near her apartment. Had everything Luke—Lucas—told her been a lie? Last night had seemed so genuine. But he’d left out a few facts, more than just his real name. He worked for a place called Dark Alley Investigations, a place that investigated cold cases. It could mean only one thing.
Lucas had joined the agency to look into Luella Palmer’s murder. Was Joseph her father? Was Lucas his friend, as he’d said?
She took out her older model smartphone and began to slowly navigate the internet, searching for anything relating to Joseph Tieber. She searched for Luella as well, and found a news story on her murder. An obituary said Joseph Tieber was her father and Lucas her brother. Lucas Curran, not Bradbury. Reading that stung. Who was he? She didn’t know him at all, a man she’d slept with.
Was Joseph his stepfather? They had different last names. Had Luella been Tieber or Curran before she married Jared? She had an urgent need to know and berated herself for allowing her feelings to run her out of the office before making Joseph tell her. Humiliation didn’t make her eager to face him again. Or Lucas.
Not wanting to go home with all the chaos mixing in her mind, Rachel stayed on the bus, and then two hours later found herself walking toward Joseph’s house. She remembered his address from some documents that had required she list it. All she needed was information. The truth. Not knowing who Lucas truly was would prevent her from getting closure. She’d rather face Joseph than Lucas. Joseph should be home from work by now. She’d talk to him and then she’d put this behind her and move on with her life.
Another hour later she walked up Joseph’s spectacular street, huge and luxurious houses spaced far apart on giant lots. She went up to the front door and knocked.
A woman answered. Dyed blond hair, average height and weight, she looked well preserved and warily curious.
Rachel heard a television somewhere inside; the sound echoed in the cathedral-like entry. She had never seen anything so grand in her life. On TV, but not in person.
“Yes?” the woman asked.
“Is Joseph here?”
“He isn’t home from work yet. Who...” The woman searched Rachel’s face as though trying to place her.
“I work for your husband. A-at least, I used to work for him.”
More understanding smoothed the woman’s face, but her confusion remained. “What are you doing here?”
“I...” Rachel lowered her head, at a loss for how to explain and not sure she should. This woman was a stranger, and Rachel didn’t feel like explaining what had occurred.
“Wait a minute.” The woman pointed her finger as something dawned on her. “You’re that girl. The one who had the affair with our daughter’s husband.”
“I’m sorry.” Rachel started to turn, expecting animosity. “I intruded. I’ll go now.”
The woman stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “Wait.”
Startled, Rachel looked into blue-gray eyes much like Lucas’s, and instead of wrath, she saw kindness. Warmth.
“I assume you found out?” Lucas’s mother said.
“Really, I should go. I shouldn’t have come here.”
“Joseph said you would.”
Rachel didn’t understand what she meant.
“Find out,” the woman clarified, hooking her arm with Rachel’s. “Come in. Let’s talk.”
The woman guided her inside, taking her to a wide-open living room that magnetized Rachel.
“Have a seat and we’ll talk this through. My son and husband don’t give the technique much credence when they really should.”
Rachel didn’t resist the woman’s wishes. Joseph must have told her some things, things he’d asked Rachel to believe.
She sat on a gigantic sectional. Something shifted in her, a deep, long-forgotten sense of caring, of being cared for. This woman could have turned her away. Instead, she welcomed her. Since her affair and the loss of her one good job, Rachel had alienated herself from her friends. She had no family, other than a few distant cousins too far removed to count.
“I’m Gloria Tieber. Why don’t you start by telling me how you did find out?”
Rachel would have retreated, were it not for Gloria’s simple approach. “I overheard Marcy talking.” She turned away with the renewed sting that memory packed.
“Don’t mind her. Whatever she said, she said it because she’s jealous
. Joseph was going to transfer her no matter what. He isn’t a game-player. He won’t tolerate anyone who is. He prefers people who shoot straight. Like you.”
Rachel brought her thoughts back around.
“It’s not like him to lie,” Gloria said. “But he’d do anything for Lucas. They’ve been close ever since Joseph and I met. Took to each other right away.”
“Lucas isn’t his son?” She already knew, only needed confirmation, or maybe just to have it embedded into her head so she didn’t imagine there’d ever be any hope for her with Lucas.
“Next best thing. Stepson. My first husband died at a young age, when Lucas was just four. Luella was just a baby back then.”
Rachel watched as the woman’s thoughts wandered. The awfulness of losing a husband and the good memories of Luella had to feel like sorrow sprinkled with sugar.
“That must have been very difficult,” Rachel said.
Gloria smiled, the sorrow remaining. “It was such a long time ago. And Joseph is a wonderful man.”
Rather than continue down that line, Rachel asked, “Lucas and Luella weren’t adopted?”
“We decided not to arrange for Joseph to adopt them, in memory of their father.”
She could see Joseph being the kind of man to go along with that. An insecure man may not be so understanding. Lucas was a lot like that, too. As that thought popped into her head, the hurt churned on a new wave. “Why did he lie?” Rachel asked. “Does he think I had something to do with Luella’s murder?”
“I think he needs to investigate every possibility.”
The neutral way she answered told Rachel that he hadn’t ruled out any possibility.
“I didn’t know about Luella until after her murder,” Rachel said, feeling obligated to, as though she had to defend herself. “I saw it on the news.”
Justice Hunter Page 5
