Coming Home: Baytown Boys Series

by Maryann Jordan

  Tori loved the sea glass, but as soon as Katelyn mentioned last night’s storm, she blushed at her memories. Mitch had made it to her place just as the lightning crackled across the bay and the thunder echoed overhead.

  Woken up by his kisses, they made love as wildly as the wind raged outside, knowing the storm would keep their cries of passion from being heard by anyone else.

  “What’s on your mind this morning?” Katelyn asked, as she stopped dead in her tracks, her hands on her shapely hips.

  “What?”

  “That look on your face tells me the storm wasn’t the only action last night!”

  “I…I…oh, none of your business,” Tori spouted, knowing her propensity for blushing just reached new heights.

  Laughing, Katelyn said, “Hey, I’m glad for you. Everyone knows you and Mitch were made for each other.” Wistfully looking out onto the bay, she added, “At least you’re getting some business. I’m having a serious drought!”

  The two women walked beyond the cement factory that was on one side of town where the beaches were not populated and the vacationers were not also searching for shells and sea glass.

  Tori looked toward the dunes, saying, “The golf course is right over there, isn’t it?”

  Katelyn nodded, her face still down on the sand at her feet. “Yeah. Aiden and Brogan go over occasionally to play. Now that Mitch is home, they’ll probably all go. I thought about getting a job there as a hostess in the clubhouse, but,” shrugging, “I’ve got enough waitressing with the diner and the bar.”

  Looking at her friend, Tori asked, “Did you ever think of leaving Baytown?”

  Barking out a laugh, Katelyn said, “Of course. I think every kid who grew up in this tiny town wanted to get out. But when Aiden and Brogan joined the military, I knew mom and dad would have been so sad for me to leave also. So I stayed. My two years at the North Heron Community College gave me an associate’s degree in Business, but that’s about it.”

  “Did you ever take any computer tech classes?”

  “Sure. I can’t do a lot, but I can do business reports, payroll, design a website.”

  Grabbing Katelyn’s arm, Tori said, “Oh, would you work on the webpage for the Sea Glass Inn? I am desperate!”

  “Hey, girls!” a shout came from behind and as they turned, Jillian came running up. “I didn’t think I’d have a chance to get away from the coffee shop but all my help came in today, so I decided to find you two. Have you got any good pieces?”

  Katelyn showed Jillian the pieces of sea glass she had collected as Tori walked along the beach a little further. Suddenly a shot rang out and Tori jumped at the sound.

  “They’re not supposed to be shooting geese this time of day,” Jillian complained.

  “Did The Dunes Resort give the hunters permission to shoot the geese on the golf course again?” Tori called out.

  The other two women nodded as they walked toward her.

  “Yes, but not this early in the day,” Katelyn explained as another shot ricocheted nearby. “Damn, we’d better get out of here. I’d hate to—”

  A third shot rang out, this time causing Tori to scream out as she dropped to the sand. Her leg was on fire with pain as she grabbed it, looking down to see blood running between her fingers. “I’ve been hit!” she screamed.

  “Holy shit!” Jillian yelled, crouching down as she low crawled over to Tori.

  Katelyn was already on her phone calling 911 as Jillian reached Tori and ripped off her bandana to wrap around the injured leg. Looking up, she saw two men in a Dunes’ Gator used for collecting trash from the beach coming toward them over the sand. Jillian waved, calling out to them, and they immediately drove over, hopping out as soon as they reached the women.

  “Who the hell is letting geese hunters out now when there are people on the beach?” Katelyn yelled.

  As one man crouched next to Tori, the other replied, “We heard the shots, but there are no hunters allowed on The Dunes Golf Course today.”

  Kayelyn ran over, her phone to her ear and said, “Can you take us to where an ambulance can get to us?”

  “Sure, miss. Tell ’em to come to the front security gate of The Dunes.”

  The two men carefully lifted Tori, but the burning pain was excruciating. Blood had soaked her sock where it had run down her leg. Oh, no, I’m going to faint. Her pale face flopped back as the world darkened.

  The driver yelled, “Hold on!” to the other four as he drove straight up the dune and across the golf course, racing toward the gate.

  *

  Mitch and the other officers were moving from the staffroom to continue their investigations or move out on patrol when Mildred raced around the corner skidding to a stop in her orthopedic shoes.

  “911 call just came in,” she panted. “Shooting at the golf course. Zac is in the ambulance. A person was shot.” With that parting information, she ran back to her desk, listening to the emergency radio.

  “Who the hell is shooting on the golf course?” Mitch growled, already moving out the door.

  Grant, right behind him, said, “The Dunes golfing community occasionally gives local hunters rights to shoot geese off the golf course, but not this time of year and certainly not this time of day. Not with golfers around.”

  As Mitch and Grant were almost out the door, Mildred yelled out, “Chief! It was Katelyn that called in the shooting! Tori was shot!”

  “Fuck!” Mitch roared, throwing open the door as he rushed to his jeep.

  Grant grabbed his arm, yelling, “No, Mitch!” Grabbing his friend, he shoved him toward the police SUV’s passenger side and said, “I’m driving.”

  It took less than three minutes to arrive at The Dune’s guard entrance where they could see the ambulance parked, back doors open, and Zac grabbing his equipment along with the other EMT. By the time Grant parked next to it, several SUVs and trucks had pulled up beside them, filled with volunteer firemen and rescue workers.

  Pushing through the crowd to the arriving Gator, Mitch stared in horror at the image of Tori, pale and listless, lying in the arms of one of the groundskeepers, blood covering her leg and foot.

  “Tori,” he breathed, moving to take her in his arms.

  A strong hand on his arm halted him. “Mitch, let me do my job,” Zac said. Mitch turned his stricken gaze to his friend, unwilling and unable to let go until Grant moved in as well.

  Jillian hopped out and ran to Mitch, babbling, “They were shooting. We were on the beach and they were shooting at us.”

  His mind tried to process what she was saying while keeping an eye on Tori as Zac had her laid on the stretcher so he could assess her needs.

  Grant’s gaze darted to Jillian, quickly assessing her from head to toe. His fingers curled into fists as she saw the panic on her face and fought the urge to hurry over to her, as she continued to shake.

  Katelyn, the calmer of the women, stepped up and wrapped her arm around Jillian, but kept her eyes on Mitch and the other men who had gathered around. “We heard shots. Two of them hit near Tori. It was the third that hit her in the leg. I think it was just a glance, but it bled like crazy.” She nodded to the groundskeepers, “They said there was no geese shooting today so I don’t know who it was.”

  Mitch, still standing right next to the stretcher, his eyes not leaving Tori, pulled himself together and barked out, “No one leaves the community until checked by us. Grant, you work the gate with The Dune’s security guard.” He turned to the others gathered around and said, “I’ll take any volunteers who’ll scour the grounds, especially over by the dunes near the bay, to see what you can find. Any evidence, call for Sam or Ginny to bag it up. Katelyn, go with Burt and show him where you were when Tori was shot. The tide is going out so we have a chance to recover the bullets.”

  With that, the group immediately dispersed, the volunteers jumping in their vehicles and heading into the gated community. Mitch looked up as a golf cart came into view, recognizing The Dune’s gener
al manager.

  Roger Thorpe, informed about the shooting by radio calls from the groundskeepers, hopped out of his cart as soon as it stopped. “Chief Evans, I heard what happened. I’ve called a halt to all golfers on the courses and had them come back to the clubhouse for their own safety. Thank God it was only a few out this early. If it had been later in the day, it would have been a publicity nightmare!”

  Mitch glared at the man, but Grant deftly moved the manager over to the guardhouse to talk with him there. Kneeling by the stretcher, he took Tori’s pale hand in his own, breathing easier as she opened her eyes.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.

  “Babe, you’ve got nothing to be sorry about,” he said, leaning down closer to hear her over the noise, his thumb reaching out to brush the tears away.

  “I faint when I see blood,” she explained, her voice shaky. Glancing down at Zac, she said, “How is it?”

  Zac addressed Tori but moved his gaze between her and Mitch. “We’re going to take you to the clinic here in town. I want you seen there first. Then Dr. Warren or Dr. Turner can let us know if you need to be taken to the hospital.”

  Nodding her understanding, Mitch growled, “Why don’t we take her to the hospital now and not waste time?”

  Zac said patiently, “The bullet grazed her leg. It was a deep graze and needs to be treated but the trip to the hospital is over thirty minutes away. A doctor can treat her at the clinic in about three minutes. We’ve called ahead and they’re expecting us.”

  Pinching his lips tightly, Mitch knew his friend was right. His gaze searched out Tori’s, but found her leaning back peacefully.

  “I want to go to the clinic, Mitch. I’ll go to the hospital only if they think I need to. Honey, why don’t you stay and work if you nee—”

  “Not leaving your side, babe,” he said, his right hand still holding hers closely while his left hand brushed her sweaty brow. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead before looking at Zac. Climbing into the back of the ambulance as they loaded her, he said, “Let’s go.” Looking out the back to Grant, standing nearby, he ordered, “You’re in charge of the crime scene.”

  *

  Two hours later, Mitch walked out from the back examining area of the clinic, into the waiting room on his way to get his jeep. As he entered the large waiting room, he stopped quickly at the number of people present. Brogan had his arm around his sister, Katelyn, while Aiden stood next to them holding on to Jillian. Zac had come back from the firehouse and waited with several other friends.

  His parents rushed over to his side, his mother’s face showing her concern and his father’s a mask of anger.

  “How is she?” Nancy asked, grabbing her son’s hand.

  “She’s going to be fine, mom,” Mitch replied. Hugging his mother, he looked to the others and said, “The bullet deeply grazed her leg but didn’t penetrate the bone.”

  The room filled with Thank God and Hallelujahs, before he continued. “She doesn’t have stitches because the wound is like a burn across her thigh and there’s not two edges of skin to pull together. It will be painful and cause scarring but Dr. Warren says it should heal in several weeks.”

  He wiped his hand across his forehead and said, “I need to jog over and get my jeep to take her home. She’s all worried about the inn but I told her that she has to stay off her feet for at least two days, so she’s coming home with me.”

  Jason, who had been leaning against the wall, spoke up. “I’ll be at the Inn in the mornings and evenings, so I can take care of everything there if someone can do the breakfast.”

  “I’ll bring breakfast,” Jillian volunteered. “She doesn’t need to worry about a thing.”

  Katelyn piped up, “If Jason will be there at night, I’ll handle the afternoons. It’s slow at the bar anyway, so I can keep an eye on things while Jason is out.”

  “Honey,” Nancy said, “why don’t you bring her to our house. I can keep an eye on her while you’re working.”

  Mitch pondered this suggestion for a moment and then said, “Tell you what. I’ll bring her there now while I get with the others to find out what they’ve learned, then I’ll come by and take her to my place for the night. I’ll bring her back tomorrow.”

  Ed stepped up to his son, placing his hand on Mitch’s shoulder, and said, “We’re here for whatever you need, son. And as for me, I want to assist in any way I can. I’m sick and tired of being cooped up in the house so I’ll be more than happy to do some investigating.”

  A slight gasp was heard and the group turned to see Tori sitting in a wheelchair the nurse had rolled out. Swallowing a sob, she cried, “I don’t know how to thank you all.”

  Stalking over, reaching her side in four steps, Mitch crouched down next to her, taking her hand in his. “Babe, there’s not a person in this room who wouldn’t do whatever they could to keep you safe.” Taking her face in his hands, he brushed his lips over hers. “And I promise,” he vowed, “I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  Chapter 21

  While the sofa was very soft, Tori shifted in discomfort. The pain meds had made her drowsy and now, as she slowly awoke, her gaze tried to focus on her unfamiliar surroundings.

  Nancy appeared in her line of vision, a concerned expression on her face. “How are you feeling? Can I get you something to drink?”

  Parched, Tori’s tongue felt dry and swollen as she nodded. “Yes, please,” she croaked.

  Without having to leave the room, Nancy produced a tall glass of iced tea with a sprig of mint resting on top. “This should help revive you a little.”

  Gratefully taking the proffered cold drink, Tori lifted it to her lips, drinking deeply. Nodding, she smiled, handing it back to Nancy before pressing down on the sofa to shift her body up to a more sitting position.

  Looking down at the large, gauze-wrapped bandage circling her thigh, Tori shook her head. “Wow, I still can’t believe what happened. Shot?” Her gaze jumped up to Nancy’s. “That’s so crazy. None of this makes sense.”

  Nancy set the glass down on the large coffee table and then plopped down on it as well, her hands reaching out to grasp Tori’s. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I can’t even express how shocking this all is.” Leaning down slightly to hold Tori’s gaze, she continued, “But I’m sure my Mitch will get to the bottom of it all.”

  At the sound of Mitch’s name on his mother’s lips, Tori could not hold back the blush rising from her chest to the top of her forehead. I wonder what his mother thinks about us?

  Before she had time to ponder that question further, Nancy laughed. “Oh, my dear. Don’t worry—Ed and I are thrilled Mitch and you are together. I think we always hoped it would happen one day.”

  Smiling shyly at his mother, she admitted, “Well, then you hoped for what I assumed would never occur. After he left for the military, I finished high school in Virginia Beach, went to college, worked, even got married…then divorced.” Her gaze nervously shot to Nancy’s, uncertain as to how much Mitch’s mom knew about her life.

  Patting her uninjured leg, Nancy said, “Just like sea glass, my dear. We all take some time to let life wear off some of our rough edges and polish us to be admired. You and Mitch needed to experience life outside of Baytown.”

  Staring at Nancy in curiosity, Tori thought about those words. Like sea glass. Funny, how those of us who grew up with the surf-polished slivers of beauty understand.

  Nancy continued, “Mitch was a good boy and we were very proud of him. But he was also a bit of the town’s golden boy. All those kids in that group were special. You know, as parents you always hope your children make good friends, and Ed and I certainly got our wish. The group of young men the town affectionately nicknamed the Baytown Boys, were good kids. But, Mitch needed to mature. It terrifies a mother when her son goes off to war, but he needed the opportunity to grow. To become one of many…not just the leader of a small-town group of kids. He had to learn fear to become fearless. Learn t
o serve to know how to lead. He needed to learn loneliness to know who he wanted to be with. He needed to work in a big job in a big city to learn that, for him, the small town was where he wanted to be.”

  Nancy continued to smile at Tori as she said, “And I have a feeling you needed your life experiences to shape you into the young woman that’s ready to have a relationship with Mitch.”

  “My grandmother used to talk about sea glass the same way,” Tori admitted. Sighing, she added, “Sea glass is what Katelyn, Jillian, and I were out looking for this morning. I’m glad nothing hit them too.”

  Nancy began to say something, but halted, hating to give voice to her fears…and what she knew her son assumed.

  Tori watched Nancy’s face carefully, reading her easily. “You think I was hit on purpose, don’t you? That’s what they all think.”

  Reaching out to grasp Tori’s hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze, Nancy replied, “Sweetie, I was the daughter-in-law to a police officer and chief, and then the wife of that, and now the mother…believe me when I say it doesn’t help to speculate on something until the evidence is in.” She hesitated and then added, “But, you need to be very vigilant. I know that is what Mitch wants for you as well.”

  Standing, Nancy took Tori’s empty glass and headed to the kitchen to refill it, returning a moment later. “Now, is there someone we should call? Your mom, perhaps?”

  “Oh, goodness, no. I wouldn’t want to bother her.” Seeing Nancy’s surprised face, Tori added, “She hasn’t been feeling well lately, so this would only be unnecessarily worrisome.” She watched Nancy’s understanding nod, and said, “It’s no secret mom and I aren’t overly close. I love her and know she loves me, but we have always been so different. Vanessa and she were more alike.”

  Nancy plopped back down in the chair opposite the sofa and nodded. “Yes, I remember that about her. Vanessa was more like Vera and you always took after your father’s side of the family. He loved Baytown and I always thought he left only because Vera wanted to live a more upscale life.” She immediately leaned forward, “Please forgive me if that was impertinent.”