Games of Zeus 02- Silent Echoes

by Aimee Laine

  Three phone calls and one drive-thru run later, Ian and Taylor’s car crunched gravel in Lexi and Tripp’s driveway. Riley’s black pickup waited, with him standing at the front. Emma rocked in a chair on the wide expanse of porch, and, Ian assumed, Lexi and Tripp waited inside. He parked, grabbed the bags of biscuits and goodies from the back seat, and slipped from the car.

  Riley pushed off from his truck, tucked what looked like a cell phone in his jeans pockets and didn’t even look toward Ian.

  As soon as Taylor got within his reach, he put his hands on her biceps, holding her still and in front of him. “Tell me why you asked me if I’d been to your house.”

  “I will, but I’d rather do it once—”

  “You think someone has, then. Who?”

  Taylor shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “This needs to be reported—”

  “I’m just a little leery of having any more police around my house, Riley.”

  Ian held up the bags, nudged Taylor with his shoulder and walked away. From within his peripheral vision, Riley let go, and both he and Taylor followed.

  On the porch, Emma stood, opened the door and waved them in. “Sherrill’s scanning the photos for you,” she said as they passed. “She’ll text me when she’s done and send them to us.”

  Ian gave her a small nod. “Thanks.”

  “Good morning.” In the kitchen, Lexi sipped from a cup, a pile of saltine crackers at her side, while Tripp stood leaning back against the sink.

  When Ian dropped the breakfast on the table, Lexi jumped up and ran from the room.

  A door somewhere in the back slammed shut, and Emma went after her.

  “She upset about something?” Ian asked as the scent of bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy wafted from the bag.

  “Or is that morning sickness?” Taylor asked.

  “The second,” Tripp said. “And God help me, I’m gonna die if I have to eat crackers for breakfast again.” He grabbed an orange and white wrapper from the table, unfurled it and bit in. His eyes closed as if heaven itself descended upon his taste buds.

  “My sister spent the first trimester doing the same thing,” Riley said.

  Ian took a seat, motioned to Riley and Taylor to do the same. Tripp dropped onto the end stool as Emma came back in.

  “She says to eat, hurry it up and throw all remnants away.” Emma grabbed a biscuit and dove into it as fast as Tripp had.

  “She been like this long?” Ian asked as he savored his own hand-held goodness.

  “Almost two weeks,” Tripp mumbled behind a bite. “Was fine for a while, and then it hit her. Every morning, she comes in here, sips her tea ready to eat some crackers, and it either all comes back up, or she pounds another portion or two down. I don’t get it.”

  “All day?” Taylor asked.

  Tripp shook his head. “Usually by noon, she’s good if she’s been sick. If she’s having a good day, she’ll eat like a horse from the moment she wakes up.”

  “It’ll end,” Riley said. “Katie swears she’ll never have another during those first twelve weeks.”

  “She’s on her third of the brood, isn’t she?” Taylor bounced with a small laugh.

  Riley nodded, his hands tucked in his lap. “Don’t you want a whole bunch, Tay? Something like a half dozen to fill up your Mama’s house to mess it up on purpose.”

  Taylor shot Riley her middle finger.

  “You can eat, you know,” Emma said to Riley. “It’s gonna go to waste if you don’t, thanks to Lexi’s overactive sense of smell.” Emma slid a wrapped package to him. “You want kids, Riley?”

  He took one of the breakfast sandwiches. “I don’t think about it much since I’m not married.” His emphasis on the last part came with a direct glance toward Taylor.

  Sitting between them, Ian swiveled back and forth to catch the looks.

  “How long have you two known each other?” Tripp asked.

  “All our lives,” Riley said. “She was the girl next door through high school. I’ve seen the pigtails, first bikinis, braces, acne, all grown up—all the stages.”

  “And, you never made a move?” Tripp asked.

  Ian shot his best friend a glare.

  Tripp grinned.

  Riley chuckled. “Would you have wanted to date Emma?”

  Emma batted Tripp with her hand. “That’s just mean.”

  “What? I didn’t say anything!” Tripp shirked away from another slap. “That would be like dating Missy. That’s gross.”

  “Exactly,” Riley said.

  The five of them munched in amicable silence for a few minutes until Lexi stood in the doorway again. Tripp jumped up, and Emma stuffed wrappers in the bag, Riley helping. “It’s okay,” Lexi said. “Heard the ding of email and checked it. Got this from Sherrill.” She waved a paper in the air before handing it to Tripp. “I’m actually kinda hungry.” Another step brought her closer to the table. “Maybe I could—” She turned and ran again.

  Tripp hung his head. “This bites. She’s probably going to be like this for the rest of the morning, so we can get started anytime.”

  Emma threw away or stored the remainder of the food and came back to the table. “Whoa.” She sat and picked up the photocopy of the pictures. “That is totally you two.” She brought it closer, pulled it away and brought it in again. “And that’s totally Jason Porter.”

  “What?” Taylor and Ian said.

  Emma turned the photo around, holding it in front of herself, and pointed to one man. “This looks like Ian.” Her finger ticked to the right. “This one looks like Taylor.” She went farther in the same direction. “And, this one looks like Jason. Right? Do I win a prize?”

  “Who the heck is Jason Porter?” Riley snatched the photo from Emma.

  • • •

  “Oh, my lord,” Riley said, photo still in hand. “That’s Tanner.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Ian said.

  For the second time that day, Taylor’s body shook with an uncontrollable movement. If anyone else had recognized Tanner, it would have been Riley. They’d met once, when Riley’d tried to get her to return to North Carolina and had stayed for the better part of a week trying to convince her.

  A month later, Tanner pulled his prank-of-a-lifetime.

  “Tell me why all three of you look like you’re in the eighteen hundreds,” Riley said, his steepled hands resting on the table.

  Taylor recognized the gesture. Calm fury—one Riley had perfected over his years on the force. She squelched her internal groan. “Was this what your gut was telling you, Ian?” Taylor asked. “Was this why you didn’t think we’d beaten it?”

  “Not exactly, but what if he was there, and he’s here now—” Ian ran a hand over his head, pursing his lips.

  “Then how?” Tripp asked.

  “The mind can really play tricks. Maybe—” Ian turned to Tripp. “You got your computer?”

  “I’ll get it.” Tripp disappeared with a scrape of chair legs against the floor.

  “Tay?” Riley’s simple call of her name held the undertones of one ready to burst.

  “I’m just gonna go check on Lexi.” Emma scooted back and followed Tripp, leaving Ian, Taylor and Riley together.

  “Taylor Claire Marsh. Speak. Now.” Riley poked one finger onto the table. “If Tanner Meadows is somehow alive and around here, I need to know. And, I want to know how he’s involved in this … thing—” He turned to Ian. “—that you got her caught up with.”

  A bubble of Taylor’s own anger built inside. She opened her mouth to speak as Ian’s chair scooted forward with a screech against the floor.

  Hands clasped on the table, in much the same way Riley’s had been, Ian said, “I didn’t bring her into this. It’s a game. A fucking messed up one. And now, with these three faces, I’m thinking there’s some sort of connection.” Ian pointed to the photo.

  Taylor held up a finger. “But the game is only us two.”

  “Jessie recounted a
story she was told.” Ian adjusted until he faced Taylor. “You know how that is? One person tells a story, another retells it, and the little details change. Who knows if this is related, but I have a feeling … and I told you I listen to my gut.”

  Taylor sat back, rubbing her hands up her arms.

  Ian switched back to Riley. “I think Tanner faked his own death. Again. And took Jason’s name. I think he set up Taylor … somehow. I think those two people in that picture are actually Taylor and I, but in another life. It’s obvious Tanner was there, too … somehow. But, what his role is, I don’t know.”

  Riley let out a deep sigh. “And, you really believe all this? What you told me in New York wasn’t just some … scheme?”

  Ian leaned farther across the table. “Do you believe she can move the air?”

  “I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” Riley said as Emma, Tripp and Lexi walked back in.

  “Seen what?” Emma plopped down in the seat closest to Riley while Tripp opened the laptop.

  Taylor dropped her head into her hands. A squeak brought her head back up.

  Tripp turned a laptop around until it faced her. “Is this Tanner or Jason, Taylor?”

  Her heart lurched as the face stared back at her. The one on the left, clean shaven and unsmiling, matched the one on the right—closed-eyed and with the pallor of death. “Not Tanner. But not Jason, either.”

  Tripp turned it to Emma. “You recognize him?”

  Emma nodded. “Jason.”

  Taylor shook her head again. “No.” She closed her eyes. “It’s the third guy. From the tower incident.”

  “What?” Riley beat his fists into his temples. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t know!” Anger surged through Taylor’s words as the news boiled in her gut.

  “Would you give me that data, there, Tripp?” Riley nodded his head toward the laptop.

  Tripp and Ian turned to each other and back to Riley. “Sure.”

  “Great. I’m going to take this to my lieutenant and do some digging. We’ve got ourselves an identity thief—”

  “Who was here recently,” Emma said.

  Riley nodded. “I want to do a little canvassing, too. And, Emma, I’d like to talk with you about your interactions with him.” He turned to the others. “I suggest you all try to relax and let me handle this.”

  Taylor wanted to say ‘thank you, yes, take it!’, while at the same time, she knew Tanner’s involvement meant misfortune would be right around the corner.

  “No,” she said as Ian said, “I think putting this back in the hands of the police is a good idea.”

  Taylor swung around to him, her hair hitting her in the face. “Wait … what?” She didn’t want anyone hurt on her account, including Riley.

  Ian stared straight back into her eyes. He took her hand so their ring fingers connected and smiled. “We’re going to let them do their job.” His head shifted until he faced Riley. “If Tanner messes with Taylor again—”

  Riley held up both hands. “Don’t say it out loud.” A second later, he covered his ears and sidestepped toward the door. “Emma … would you mind joining me out here for a second?”

  She jumped from her seat and glided after him, the door slamming shut behind them.

  Taylor whirled to Ian. “What’s going on?”

  Ian twisted to Lexi as soon as Riley left. “You’ll do this, right, Lex? You’ll look for him so I can go have a little chat with him? All I need—”

  Lexi sipped at more of her tea and closed her eyes, leaning into Tripp’s shoulder. “Sometimes, I hate this gift.”

  Taylor wanted to ask ‘what gift?’ but ingrained manners kept her silent while inside curiosity ate at her.

  “Please, Lexi?” Ian asked. “I’ve never asked, and I just need you to tell me where he is.”

  Tripp held up a hand. “She doesn’t do people, Ian. You know that.”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it.” Ian slammed his hands against the wall. He spun toward Lexi. “This is more important than—”

  Tripp rose, stormed toward Ian, and shoved at his chest with both hands. “Than what, Ian? The delicate nature of my wife?”

  Taylor scrambled up, standing between the two men and moving to block Tripp when he slid to the side.

  He picked her up by her biceps and spun so she’d be behind him. “You, stay out of this.”

  Ian responded by scrambling forward and sending Tripp back a few feet. “Do not try me, man. And do not mess with her.”

  “I can take care of myself.” Taylor’s rage burst from her.

  Ian pounded the counter by the sink, his focus still toward his friend. “Now is not the time to deny me, Tripp. I’ve spent all my life following you and doing the digging, the research—fuck, everything—”

  “Except going in and getting the job done.”

  “Don’t fuck with me, man. We’re equals in our partnership.”

  “Don’t ask for what crosses the line.”

  Already, Tanner’s involvement stretched a brother-like bond thin—a result that tugged at Taylor. “Stop—”

  “I … didn’t … cross.” Ian’s fists clenched. He drew one up and shook it at Tripp; for a moment, Taylor considered he might take a swing. “You went looking.” He whirled to Lexi. “You did. On your own terms, you went looking for us.” He pointed at Taylor. “And now, when I need you to do it for me, for other reasons, you won’t?”

  “I—” Lexi started.

  Tripp’s palm met Ian’s shoulder and pushed him back. “Get out.”

  Taylor would have gotten in the middle, but despite her strength, both would bowl her over and ultimately do whatever they wanted without her.

  “Tripp, no!” Lexi pushed back from the table and stood, her hands falling to the surface as she did. “Whoa. Head rush.” She swayed. Tripp caught her before she fell.

  Ian went to her. “I’m sorry, Lexi.” A mix of kindness and irritation came through Ian’s tone.

  “Get the fuck out of my house, Ian.” Tripp set her back in her seat.

  “No.” Lexi shook her head. “He’s right, Tripp.”

  “I won’t have him asking stuff of you when you’re not in a position to—”

  Lexi crossed her arms over her chest. “Really? You asked me to look for Jill’s husband. You asked me to look for the owner of the bone. And, I did both.” She gave Tripp a curt nod. “Just because I said ‘no people’ doesn’t mean I’m not going to use every gift I have to make sure our family is safe, Tripp. You … of all people … should know that.”

  Ian snickered as Tripp shuffled backward.

  Taylor leaned into the frame of the door separating the kitchen from the living room.

  “You think that just because I get a little sick and have to eat crackers and tea, and faint occasionally … that I’m weak now?”

  “No.”

  “Yes, you do.” She flicked the top of Tripp’s head. A small snort escaped Ian. “And you.” Her finger headed in his direction. “You know I don’t look for people. But, this is an exception. You also know I can’t do it … without Tripp. And, he’s obviously not going to agree until I do and until you aren’t fighting. So, that means you two have to make this right.” She waved her hand toward the men. “Kiss and make up.”

  “Fuck, no,” Tripp said to Ian’s, “Are you insane?”

  Lexi and Taylor laughed. Tripp and Ian turned toward each other. Tripp showed no emotion but held out his fist. Ian’s smile broke some of the tension as he connected with it.

  “Now … apologize,” Lexi said.

  “Gee, Mom,” Ian said. “Do we have to?”

  She tapped her fingernail on the table.

  “I’m sorry,” Ian said as Tripp said it, too.

  29

  Two Fridays later, neither Riley nor Lexi had found Tanner—or rather, neither had provided any news that they had. Ian had his fill of watching Taylor rise with the roosters and chickens, dress in the dark and yell at him t
o get a move on because she didn’t have all day to waste.

  Thanks to her incarceration and hospital visit, her renovations had all fallen behind. She’d needed to get back to work, and Ian refused to let her out of his sight, though she’d relegated him to the car with a stern warning not to step foot on her project again unless he’d be willing to help. She had almost three weeks of work to make up since she acted as general foreman for her crews, and in her absence, they’d all slacked off.

  Within the confines of the passenger seat of the car, Ian sat with his laptop and continued his research efforts while monitoring the scene before him. Taylor directed, pointed, yelled, and only once did Ian see any sign of excess wind in the area. He’d chuckled as a roofer slid but stopped short of falling off the edge. On the ground, Taylor had stood, her clipboard in one hand, the other outstretched toward the man, her lips moving as if to chastise his failed safety efforts. She’d only pressed at her temples afterward as if the pain of using her gift hadn’t been too bad.

  If nothing else, Ian learned she ran a proverbial tight ship and understood why Tripp had wanted the infamous ‘Taylor Marsh’ for his own house’s reconstruction.

  A knock on the window brought Ian from his laptop screen. Taylor stood just outside. With a click of the key, the glass slid down.

  “Want to make a run for some lunch?” she asked.

  “Can’t I just order it and have it delivered?”

  The roll of her eyes said ‘no’. “It might do you some good to leave for five minutes, Ian.”

  “Not until we know where Tanner is.”

  “The man’s not in town anymore. Riley’s been by fifteen times this week. He’s shown those photos around and around, and only those downtown even saw Tanner or Jason or whoever he is. If nothing else … if he shows up here, I got twelve crew inside, four outside and a cell phone.”

  “But not me.”

  Her fingers tapped on the roof of the car. “Seriously, Ian. What’s he going to do? Go into town. Get some lunch for you and me. Bring it back. By five, I’ll be done for this week.” She straightened, her head disappearing from view. A second later, she reappeared. “Oh!”

  His heart lurched until her smile reappeared. “What?”